Fishing Report

September 26th

Truckee River

Fall is here!!! Flows are great there is a lot of water in the river for late September and it has really helped the water temps! On the California side, Late morning hatches consist of Trico’s, Micro BWO’s and PED’s. Evening hatches are Micro Caddis and a few October Caddis. Fish have really keyed in on the October Caddis larva and pupa throughout the day. Nymphing with an October Caddis and a smaller dropper either “High Stick” style or under an indicator is a great way to spend the day.

In Nevada, Good hatches are coming off mid-morning. Hatches in the morning have been Micro BWO’s, Trico’s, and PED’s. The fish really have keyed in on the PED’s. Hatches in the evenings of micro caddis. Best flies have been Streamers and Hopper/Droppers have been very successful with a PED, with a few fish looking for the hopper as well. Don’t be afraid to throw the Crayfish or an October Caddis as your lead fly. Flows are: Town of Truckee 80 CFS, Boca Bridge 549 CFS, Farad 618 CFS, Reno 407 CFS and Vista 556 CFS.

Little Truckee River:

Flows are 72 CFS. These are great flows for late September. Fishing has been good. Late morning Hatches include Micro Blue Wing Olives, Midges, and Mahogany Duns. Mid-Day look to a Hopper/Dropper rig. Nymphing and Hopper/dropper have been very successful. There have been some October Caddis sightings and swinging an October Caddis pupa or even a Dry can be effective.

East Walker River

Flows are 204 CFS. These are great flows for the fall. There are still plenty of Hoppers around despite the low overnight temperatures last week. Fishing big Dries in the seams and slower water has been getting the attention of some pretty big fish. Hopper dropper rigs fished in the same water is also working well. At 204 CFS most of the fish are out of the main current and closer to banks. The river is perfect right now and worth the drive for sure. Just about any normal East Walker techniques are worth some time.

Frenchman’s Reservoir

Water Temperatures have dropped fast since the last cold front. Surface temps. Are in the high 50’s already and the fish are happy. Nymphing with Maholo Midges and Nymphs is hard to beat right now. Fish can be found in anywhere from a foot of water down to 20 feet. There are also some fish eating on the surface in the shallows in the mornings. Loco Ants, Midges and Parachute Adams are all good bets if you can find these fish. Frenchman’s should be a great place to spend the day for the next month or more.

Davis Lake

Conditions are very much like that of Frenchman’s except for fish are hard to find. Davis still needs some help from Fish and Game to get the numbers back to where they should be. Changing the regulations so fewer fish are kept would also help out Davis a lot. If you can find some fish the good news is they are big and fat and fighting hard. Stripping Wooly’s and leaches in 4-12 feet of water is a good way to go. Indicator Nymphing with Blood Midges like the Albino Wino in 6-10 feet around the weed bed edges is also worth a try.

Pyramid Lake (Opens October 1st)

The lake still has a lot of closed areas and beaches. Nothing was done all summer to fix the road to the North end of the lake. Everything North of Warrior Point remains closed. On the South End Dago and Howards are in the same situation. Nothing has been done to get these areas ready for fishing season. If you can try to avoid the first couple of weekends at the lake. It is going to be a zoo at the three or four beaches that normally hold fish (and fisherman) in the fall.

Fall Forecast – There is plenty of Tui Chubs around the West shore anywhere from Popcorn to Warrior. This is normal for this time of year and really expected. The water has come up over 10 feet since January and really helped out the Chubs and the Alkalinity levels in the lake. The surface temps are still in the high 60’s and most likely will keep fish in deeper water for another few weeks. Accessing deeper water from shore is a must for the first part of October in places like Block House and Popcorn. Dago, Howard’s and Monument all offer this type of access as well but are all still closed. Stripping streamers with a fast-sinking line or tossing spoons or Jigs in deeper water is usually the way to go in the fall. If the rest of the fishable beaches do not get opened before November it could be a really tough first few months at Pyramid. The beaches that are open hold way more fish in the spring months when the fish are in spawn mode. Most of us have been fishing the closed areas in October -February and it looks like we will not have that opportunity this year or maybe for the foreseeable future. This fall might be a great time to check out some other fisheries in the area.

August 15th

Truckee River

The Truckee is in great shape for August. The flows are good and the water temperatures are excellent. In California where the flows are lower, hopper dropper set-ups have been working well. Small Caddis and PMD nymphs fished under a big hopper or dry stone is the way to go. Caddis and Little Yellow Stones are still hatching in the evenings after the sun leaves the water. In Nevada the flows are little higher and High-Sticking or Indicator Nymphing has been working well. There are a lot of fish in the system right now due to several stockings. You will find a few Golden Stone husks on some rocks and Caddis are still hatching in the evenings. Try using a Golden Stone nymph with a smaller bead head nymph dropper. Mornings before the heat and the Bikini hatch has been the best time. Evenings are also worth a try. Flows are: Town of Truckee 262 CFS, Boca Bridge 577 CFS, Farad 672 CFS, Reno 488 and Vista 418 CFS.

Little Truckee River

Flows are at 94 CFS. Fishing has been good. Morning Hatches of Micro Blue Wing Olives and midges have been coming off. Still getting a few PMD’s Mid-Afternoon but the hatch is fading fast. Mid-Day look to a Hopper/Dropper rig. Nymphing and Hopper/dropper have been very successful, there are a few fish coming up and eating dries but you have to search these fish out. A Hopper Midge is a good go to for this time of year.

East Walker River

Flows are 340 CFS. The river is in great shape. 340 is the best flows we have seen this summer. It is totally fishable right now. It is still a little warm during the day so go early and fish until about lunch time. Not much going on in the way of hatches but Nymphing or swinging streamers has been effective. This is a great time of year to toss around a Hopper Dropper set up. Fish the seams and the slower water out of the main current. At 340 CFS there is still a lot of water for a small stream. Be careful crossing as well.

Most of the area stillwaters are still too warm to fish. The air temperatures are starting to drop and with the days getting shorter it will not be long until we have some really good fishing again on some local lakes. Stay tuned and we will keep you posted on any changes.

July 12th

Truckee River

The flows on the Truckee River continue to drop daily. The snow pack in the high sierras is diminishing quickly with the summer heat and the Truckee is dropping steadily. We now are in a situation where the Truckee is the story of two rivers. One fishable and one not yet. The River from the headwaters in Tahoe City down through the Glenshire stretch is in great shape. The water is pretty clean, low enough to fish and there has been some great fishing. Once you get downstream of Boca Bridge the Truckee is still two or three times its normal flows for this time of year. Once you get to the Nevada side you can also add in a clarity issue. These conditions are changing and getting better daily. It should not be long before most of the river, even through Reno is fishable again. If you are headed out to the fishable Truckee take along your nymph box and plenty of extra weight. High Sticking some of the slower water along the edges and seems is the way to go. The patterns are not as important as the drift as usual. Extra weight will get you down to the fish and help a ton with your drift. Indicator Nymphing is also a good bet, especially for those who are not as seasoned on the Truckee. Try a Stonefly Nymph with a PMD or Caddis dropper and a size BB weight above the top fly. Make sure you use an indicator big enough to hold all that stuff up. If you are on the river in the evenings look for a random fish along the edges sipping some dries just before dark. Flows are: Town of Truckee 426 CFS, Boca Bridge 989 CFS, Farad 1250 CFS, Reno 1020 CFS and Vista 1290 CFS.

Little Truckee River

Flows on the Little Truckee were down to 86 CFS for a little while and are now up to 175 for the last three days. These are really fishable conditions on the L.T. That being said the fishing is pretty tough and the water is crowded. There is still a sparse PMD hatch going on in the late mornings but besides that it is much smaller stuff. Nymphing at these flows can be really good. There is not as much crap on the bottom and you can get a really good drift. You can also use a little heavier tippet up to 4X depending on the size of flies you are using. Have some PMD dries with you in case you see some rising fish. The best time to fish is between 8-2 on most days and then again in the evenings. Don’t over fish the water and take your time between casts. The Little Truckee is a very technical fishery and 95% of the fish are caught by 5% of the anglers there.

East Walker River

Flows on the East Walker are at 1130 CFS. This is as low as they have been this season but don’t expect them to come down a whole lot anytime soon. The middle to Southern Sierras are still packed with snow and run off is in full swing. At 1100 CFS it is impossible to cross and very tough to find a place to fish. If you don’t know the East Walker really well it is still too high to fish.

East Carson River

The flows on the East Carson are 1520 CFS. They are coming down slightly each day and Yo Yo ing hard with snow melt and Run-off. It could be another 2 weeks to a month before the flows reach fishable conditions.

Davis Lake

The surface Temperatures at Davis are above 70 degrees and the hot weather has Davis in summer mode. The fish are deep and only really feeding in shallow water at first light. Unless you are camping or staying in the area, Davis is not really worth it until fall.

Frenchman’s Reservoir

Frenchman’s is a lot like Davis this time of year. The only difference is you can get some fish in the early mornings fishing a deep water indicator rig. Fish can be caught on Midges and Callabaetis Nymphs 15 to 20 ft. down. Once the surface temperature gets warm in mid-morning it is not a good idea to keep fishing. Look for Frenchman’s to be really good this fall.

May 1st

Pyramid Lake

Well May is here and it feels more like Mid-April. The water temperatures are 5-7 degrees colder than normal and the weather has been colder than normal most of the last month. Add the Truckee River flowing into the lake at over 5000 CFS and you have the makings for an extended season. The lake is rising over an inch a day right now and this pattern could go on for at least another month or so. Lake levels are heading for what they were over 10 years ago. This is great news for the long term fishing at the lake and the health of all of the fish that live there. Lake levels have come up over 4 feet so far and could double that before the run-off is over this summer.

The water is not as clear now due to the flows on the Truckee and the amount of silt that was dumped into the lake this winter from the fire last summer and the floods in January. You can see a defined mud line that has crept north to almost the North Nets now and is covering the entire south end of the lake. It has not affected the fishing much and especially not on the Northern end where the water is still only a bit off-colored. Any windy day has created a really muddy shallow water situation from the silt and with the water starting to warm now and an algae bloom on warmer days is not helping.

The fishing has been better than normal for late April-early May due to the water being cooler. There are still a lot of fish cruising the shallows partly due to the water temperatures and also the off colored water. The abrupt shut off that can happen this time of year due to the post spawn has been diluted a little and fish are still in all stages of the spring spawn season. Some are spawned out and some are not even ready yet. Use this to your advantage and get out to the lake and fish. We do not see the fishing this good this late into the spring very often. Fish are being caught on all normal techniques any time of the day. The weather is playing a big role as it usually does this time of year and the best time to fish is on windy or cloudy days and first and last light.

It really sucks that no more of the lake is opened and we are not able to access some of the major spring time beaches. This is making fishing a little more crowded but the crowds are dying daily. It is starting to feel like a late season at a ski resort where the only people there are the pass holders.

Truckee River

The Truckee River is really dangerous right now and not really fishable. The run-off is a problem from Lake Tahoe all the way to Pyramid Lake. There are many reservoirs being dumped right now including Lake Tahoe to prepare for what could be major run-off in the weeks to come. This situation is not going anywhere anytime soon so making plans to fish the Truckee is not a good idea. Keep an eye on our reports for some better news as flows come down. Flows are: Town of Truckee 2550 CFS, Boca Bridge 5430 CFS, Farad 5830 CFS, Reno 5660 CFS, Vista 5990 CFS.

Little Truckee River

Flows are 1360 CFS. At these flows the river is way outside the banks and not fishing anything like normal. Although it is not as dangerous as the Truckee at these flows, it is also not really fishable for most anglers. There is a good chance that these flows will also stay very high for weeks or even longer. Stampede is going through some renovations this summer and work on the Dam is going to allow for water to be dumped from the lake. Add this to the extremely high level of the lake and it is most likely that the Little Truckee will be very high for a while. We will keep you posted to any changes in the situation.

East Walker River

Flows are 408 CFS. This seems pretty low compared to other area streams. It is but it is still pretty high for a small stream like the East Walker. Still fishable for sure but not crossable. If you need to spend some fishing time on a moving water this may be your option right now. Fish the seams and the edges in slower water. Nymphing with a larger heavy nymph like a Stonefly with a smaller dropper is the way to go. Streamers are also worth a try. Be careful wading around, the water is flowing faster than it looks. Keep an eye on the flows they could go up any day to UN fishable levels.

East Carson River

Flows are 1620 CFS. Way too high. It is difficult to fish the East Carson at 600 CFS much less 1600. Run-off is going to affect the East Carson for some time now and it may not be fishable for a few weeks. Keep an eye on the reports for more information.

Davis Lake

Ice Free and full. Actually it is higher than it has been in maybe 20 years. The water is going over the spillway. The shallows are flooded where trees, grass and shrubs have been growing for years. The water is very cold still due to the snow melt and the weather. If you are going to fish Davis look to fish the inlets of the creeks where fish should be holding in a spawning pattern. Slow stripping small wooly buggers and leeches or fishing midges under an indicator is the way to go. There are not many hatches yet but that is going to change with warming weather over the next month. The lake is set to be stocked the first week of June.

Frenchman’s Reservoir

Also full and flowing over the dam for the first time in a long time. The fishing here has been fair as of late and should keep getting better. Fish are really spread out and can be found all over the lake. Inlets and coves that have been dry for years are holding most of the fish. There has been a small midge hatch and will continue for a while. Callabaetis are still a few weeks off unless we get some really warm weather in the meantime. The lake is set to be stocked soon and should also improve the fishing.

March 30th

Pyramid Lake

Spring season and the spawn rolls on into April. There have been 3 successful spawns at the hatchery on the lake so far. Even with all of the water and the lake coming up everything seems to be right on time. Water temperatures are approaching 50 degrees and the weather has been pretty normal as of late. Each week seems to have some warm days and some minor weather and a windy day or two. The Truckee River is coming into the lake at an average of around 4000 CFS over the past few weeks and this has helped the lake to come up over three feet this season. It seems to be coming up inches a day right now. Don’t be surprised to see the lake come up another few feet before the season is over.

There are still plenty of beaches closed due to the floods in January and it seems as though we may not see to many more openings this fishing season. The road to Monument has a 10 foot deep and 25 foot wide crevice down the middle of it just north of the Ranch properties and plenty of water still coming out of the mountains through it into the lake. We don’t have much to report on Dago and Howards but with the Truckee running so hard they are probably muddy anyway. The South Nets is a mystery. We were told that the Tribe has the O.K. to allow access even though there is damage to the beach there as well. It is going to be tight and crowded for the next month so if you come to the lake accept the crowds and the lack of access right now.

As far as the fishing goes, it has been a mixed bag. As the water continues to rise in the lake look for conditions to change frequently. Stripping the normal patterns like Midnight Cowboy Wooly Buggers and Martini Olives in tandem with a Bright colored Beetle or Tadpole like chartreuse and white or all white is hard to beat. For Indicator rigs the Albino Wino and the Copper Wino have been the top producing fly for us for the umpteenth year in a row with over thirty 10 pound plus fish caught on these flies in March alone. http://pyramidlakeflyfishing.com/product-category/flies/ Fish these flies on the bottom with a Red or Black Maholo Nymph on the top. Early mornings and late evenings are the best time of day, especially during light winds and clear skies. As the water warms up in the mornings it seems to help with a mid-day bite as well. Keep checking your depth on Indicator set ups even on your favorite beaches. You will be surprised how fast the water is changing and rising in the lake. It is going to be tougher to find big fish in the coming month as more and smaller fish show up in the shallows as the spawn continues.

Our April 22nd clinic will be awesome and teach anglers how we catch so many fish at the lake. Space is limited and we only have 4 spots available.

Truckee River

As stated above the Truckee is running hard and fast, especially on the Nevada side of the river. The best fishing is up stream in the upper stretches of California down to about Boca Bridge. After that it is hard to get in the water and can be dangerous. Fishing the edges or in any slower water is the way to go. Fish are hiding from the heavy currents right now. Nymph Rigs should have plenty of split shot and streamers can be fished with a sink tip. There is not much in the way of dries. The flows will probably stay really high for the next month and even more depending on the pace of the run off. Flows are: Town of Truckee 1160 CFS, Boca Bridge 3030 CFS, Farad 3560 CFS, Reno 3500 and Vista 3580.

Little Truckee River

Flows are 774 CFS. Humming! The river is out of the banks and running hard. Not to mention the road access is still limited due to snow on the road. Your guess is as good as ours because we have plenty of other places to fish when it is this high. On the same note the flows could stay high like this for a while. Plenty of run off and a dam project on the way at Stampede Reservoir could keep the flows over 500 CFS for a month or more.

East Walker River

Ditto! 856 CFS. Look for the flows to stay really high for most of the spring.

Davis and Frenchman’s

The water is coming over the spillway and the lakes are full. Should be a good spring once the weather warms up. It has been many years since either of these two fisheries have had this much water. Plenty of coves and places to fish this year. Both have limited access still and are mostly iced over.

South Fork Reservoir

South Fork is fishing great from both shore and from boats and float tubes. The water is still really cold but fish are getting active. There has been a really good midge hatch late mornings and the fish are hungry. Albino Wino’s fished under an indicator is hard to beat right now for Rainbows, Cutthroats, Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass. South Fork has become one of our spring go to spots and we are currently running guide trips and outings in the month of May. South Fork is located near Elko Nevada and is probably the best public trout fishery in Nevada. See our Education page for more info.

March 5th

Pyramid Lake

As of March 4th 446 heading south is open. This has also allowed more beaches to open up. Tamaracks Beach heading south to Popcorn is now open to fishing. There are still three areas that are closed. Everything to the North of Shot Dog beach including Warrior Point and Monument as well as the South Nets heading south to Washout beach. Also Dago and Howards beaches remain closed. There are some severe gouges in the roads and beaches in these areas due to flooding and we may not see these open this spring.

The lake has slowed down some since the re-opener. There have even been some really tough days. The water is only 44 degrees which is only a degree or two from the normal wintertime low. High Pressure over the past few days has made it tough going. The other important thing to know is the lake has come at least two feet since the beginning of winter and it has made it impossible to wade out to the normal spots near the shelves on almost all of the lake’s more shallow beaches. This spring is going to be way different than in most years when we do not have this huge influx of water in February and March. We had this situation back in 2005 when the lake came up fast in March. There are two possible scenarios that can change the situation on our more shallow beaches. Either we can have a big wind event out of the East or North and the shelves could get reset or we will have to wait until the lake comes up another foot or two with more run-off to bring the fish into the more shallow water. The beaches with a steeper drop off on the South end of the lake are more fishable and the drop offs are easier to get to. Stormy days are going to be important to good fishing this spring as well as low light situations in the early mornings and evenings for sure. Check your depth on your indicator rigs at any of the beaches because they have all changed. Float Tubing and Pontoon Boats are going to play a key role in our spring this year, especially as the water warms up in April. We will try to keep the report up to date as often as possible as situations change at the lake.

Truckee River

The Truckee has cleared up a lot but it is really high. With more storms coming and warmer weather this week it does not look like the flows are going to come down anytime soon. There is even a release out of Lake Tahoe in anticipation that the lake is going to fill from run-off this spring. Up on the California side where the water is lower access is the issue. On the Nevada side the river is clearer but humming. The conditions are going to change a ton over the next couple of months with warmer and colder weather and storms. It might be a while before we see some really fishable conditions. Flows are: Town of Truckee 602 CFS, Boca Bridge 1280 CFS, Farad 1350 CFS, Reno 1520 CFS and Vista 1770 CFS.

East Walker River

The East Walker is flowing at 327 CFS. That is pretty high for the river but fishable. You have to fish the edges and it is going to be hard to get around and impossible to cross the river for sure. These flows are more regulated by the dam on Bridgeport Reservoir but as the Reservoir fills the flows are going to go up. This is going to be a year where the East Walker probably flows very high through the summer.

Little Truckee River

Access is the issue. If you can get to the river via skiing or snowmobile it is fishable. The flows are 160 CFS which is perfect for any time of year. This time of year it is usually dependent on Baetis and Midges fished under an indicator. There can be some dry fly fishing in the middle of the day as well. At 160 CFS fishing the edges are important and the seems and slower water. Look for active fish in the larger runs. There is a project in place this summer to raise the level of the dam at Stampede Reservoir by 11 inches. The issue here short term is there is going to be a lot of the water we have received released for the work. This means the Little Truckee could be flowing hard for quite some time. They are not going allow the lake to fill up. We finally have some water and it is going to be wasted this year due to this project. Keep an eye on the flows before you go this season.

December 6th

Pyramid Lake

We have spent the better part of the last month at Pyramid. We have seen the good the bad and the ugly! This is one of the best times of year to catch a fish of a lifetime at Pyramid for sure. There are plenty of big fish pics being circulated all over the internet coming from Pyramid Lake. That being said the fishing is tough for numbers and you have to put your time in. The water is cooling down rapidly now with the cold overnight and daytime temperatures in the area and with the cold forecast this pattern is not going to change. All this means for now is everything is pretty normal for this time of year. Fish are spread out. The minnows are in deep water and the fish we are catching are the occasional cruiser or school of smaller fish. Stripping Wooly Worms, Beetles and Tadpoles has been the most effective but anglers putting in their time with Balanced Leeches and Maholo Nymphs are also doing o.k. On nicer days with less wind and sunny skies it is important to fish first and last light. Cloudy, windy days are the best and fish can be caught more frequently during the day. For stripping flies try Olive Martinis, Bloody Marys and Midnight Cowboys for Wooly Worms. White Ghost or Northern Lights Tadpoles are also catching fish as well. Under the Indicator it is hard to beat either a Black Maholo Nymph or an Olive Martini Balanced Leech right now. You can fish both at the same time with the Maholo nymph fished on top.

Truckee River

The Truckee is a little on the low side but nothing like last year at this time. It actually is flowing great considering the lack of water and the drought. Winter time conditions are in place and with a huge mass of cold air coming our way we could see some ice on the river very soon with the low flows. The middle of the day is the best time to fish giving the water a chance to warm up a degree or two in the afternoons. This is usually when trout are most active in the winter. There has been some Midges and a few winter Stones out and about. Nymphing in deeper running pools is your best bet right now. The California side of the river is in the best shape but also effected most by the colder weather. East of Reno would be another place on the river to consider right now. There can be a Baetis hatch on the lower river any day but especially on warmer cloudy days. Make sure you get a good dead drift while Nymphing and cover water more methodically. Small black Stones with a Midge or Baetis Dropper is a good way to start. Flows are: Town of Truckee 25 CFS, Boca Bridge 199 CFS, Farad 212 CFS, Reno 214 CFS and Vista 269 CFS.

Little Truckee River

The Little Truckee is flowing at 32 CFS and has been for some time. There has been some Baetis hatching especially on cloudy non windy days. Late morning to midafternoon is the best time to fish right now and look for some slower moving deeper water. Fish will move into some smaller runs and riffles during a good hatch so keep an eye out for rising fish. The river has had plenty of pressure from anglers and at 32 CFS it can be very tough. Wear neutral clothing, walk slowly and take your time approaching runs. Study an area and look for active feeding fish. Size 18-20 Baetis and Midges fished either as a dry dropper rig or as a dry only is the way to go.

East Walker River

The East Walker is flowing at 28 CFS and has been that way for a while now. This is really low and probably going to get lower in the coming weeks. The overnight lows in the Bridgeport area are effecting the water temperature and helping ice form on the banks of the river. This is going to be a problem off and on for the next couple of months. If you are going to the East Walker you want to fish in the early afternoons for sure and go on days when the temperatures are not so cold at night. Nymphing the deeper runs is the way to go and small flies like San Juan Worms and Midges are the most effective. At these low flows you can fish them either dry dropper or in a two fly rig under an indicator. There have been some fish caught on the East Walker as of late but picking the right day is the issue right now.

Davis and Frenchman’s

Both of these two bodies of water are starting to freeze and with colder weather coming our way it is only going to get worse. There is not enough ice for the ice fisherman yet but also tough right now for fly anglers trying to find some open water. Keep an eye on the reports and hope we have a big winter to help both of these great fisheries.

September 8th

Truckee River

While there is still some major issues with the Truckee River there are also some good things happening short term on the river. The Upper River from Lake Tahoe down to the confluence with the Little Truckee is very low and probably too low to fish. At least the water temperatures are down and any fish that are in this stretch will be fine. The Little Truckee is dumping over 300 CFS into the river and the flows are still really good below Boca Bridge through Reno. There is still some water being sucked out along the way but it is in great shape. The California side has been the best bet for catching some fish and the Canyon section is a perfect place to give it a shot. The Nevada side has finally cooled down and is also fishable all day right now. There are still not many wild fish in the river and that will not change for years to come but the Truckee is still a beautiful place to wet a line. The Nevada side took the biggest hit during the drought the last few years and the wild Rainbow population is almost nonexistent. There are some big browns being caught occasionally up and down the river in both states. A two fly nymph rig is hard to beat with a larger point fly and a smaller size 16-18 dropper like a Baetis or any generic bead head nymph. Flows are: Town of Truckee 8 CFS, Boca Bridge 439 CFS, Farad 463 CFS, Reno 263 CFS and Vista 300 CFS.

Little Truckee River

The little Truckee’s flows are at an awful 29 CFS. The flows have been this way for some time now and it really is too low to fish if you have any standards at all. Unfortunately the drought has caught back up to the Little Truckee system and the flows probably will not change much any time soon. For any of you who were on the plan of giving our rivers a rest during the drought then the Little Truckee should be back on your list.

East Walker River

The East Walker is flowing at 112 CFS. The flows have been in this range for over a week now and if you want to spend some time on moving water in the area this may be the place. On normal years 112 CFS is ideal. This year is no exception. At this flow you can cross the river in most places, access the harder to get to spots, not spook the fish as bad in shallow spots and the water temperatures keep getting better and better. The drought has still had an impact on numbers of fish in the river in both states. Don’t look to catch a ton of fish but it is very rewarding right now and the water and weather are great. The conditions could stay this way for a while until the last call for water in the area. Dry dropper rigs with a Hopper and a small nymph like a midge or a Baetis is a great way to go this time of year and at these water levels. Look for seams and slower water around the fast water. The fish will be really spread out and fool you as to location so take your time and fish slowly and pay attention.

Davis Lake

Davis is on its way to normal fall conditions. Unlike last year there is enough water in the lake to still use the boat ramp at Honker Cove. The water temperatures are still in the mid to high 60’s but are dropping almost daily and should be really good in a couple of weeks. The lake is lacking fish for sure but the ones that are in there are huge. It is not uncommon to catch a Rainbow at Davis in the 3-6 pound range. The fish get really aggressive this time of year and if you are lucky enough to get into one of the Davis toads you can have a serious game of tug of war. Fish can be found anywhere from the shallows in the early mornings to 6-12 feet during the day. Having a couple of set-ups can be really important. An intermediate line with small Damsels nymphs fished near the surface is a good way to go. Later in the morning look to the indicator rig with Blood Midges in 4-8 feet of water. In the middle of the day try a faster sinking line with Burnt Orange or Olive Wooly Buggers in size 6-12. Look for Davis to be in great shape through at least October. The fishing will be tough but the reward will be outstanding.

Pyramid lake Fall Fishing Forecast and News

It is starting to feel like fall! 30 days to go before Pyramid Lake opens again to fishing. There have already been some cool nights in the area and the water will start to cool a bit. We are all looking forward to getting some time on the water. If this year is anything like the last two years we are in for another great fall season.

In early October the water will probably still be really warm. Bait balls of Tui Chubs can be seen from many different beaches all over the lake. The bait can handle a little warmer water than the trout so the bait will be there and the fish will move in and out chasing them around but spending more time in 10-30 feet of water where it is a little cooler. Float Tubes and Pontoon Boats are a good way to go for a few weeks until the water cools more. Maholo Nymphs, Balanced Minnows and Balanced Leeches are all good bets fished under an indicator in deeper water. 10-20 feet down. Try using a deep water indicator leader. Shooting Heads fished near the bottom in deeper water with Deep Water Wooly buggers and Balanced Minnows is the #1 way to go this time of year for sure.

As the water cools in late October the Tui chubs will start to head back into the depths of the lake. Fish tend to spread out and some will follow the bait and some will move in a little closer to shore. There are not so many fish but the chance to catch a big fish is still there. By Mid-November there should be plenty of stories going around about big fish that have been caught. Finding fish and keeping out of the summer weed growth on the bottom will be somewhat important until it dies back. Beetles and Tadpoles like the White Ghost are a good way to try to avoid the weeds. Mid November through early December is a great time to be on the water at Pyramid and is a great time to try to catch a big fish. There is usually a great evening bite at this time. By Mid-December the weather could bring water temperatures down and the fish will head out to deeper water and the fish count will start to drop as winter sets in.

Early Season Guided Fly Fishing Trips

Our fall guide schedule is filling up fast. Our two clinic/outings are already sold out. We do have some open dates in early October for some deep water float tube fishing. The fish fight as hard this time of year as any other and we have developed some techniques to take advantage of this time of year. We catch a lot of big fish in early October! We are back to ladder fishing in Mid-November and this is a great time of year to catch a 10 plus pound fish. Contact us at info@pyramidlakeflyfishing.com or 775.742.1754 for more info.

Put February 17th on the Calendar for our 3rd Annual Pyramid Lake Celebration

For more information go to: http://pyramidlakeflyfishing.com/education/pyramid-lake-celebration/

We have been working hard over the summer creating new ways to share our knowledge with our friends and clients. We are working on useful updates to our website, some really new exciting products on our online store. We are really excited for the upcoming season. Please let us know how we can make your next day on the water one to not forget.

August 2nd

Truckee River

Fishing is decent for nymphing and streamer fishing from Boca Bridge down to Reno. With the hot weather watch the water temps and quit fishing when water hits 68-70 degrees. Best time to be on the water is early a.m.

Fish have been on crawdad patterns, try your favorite crayfish pattern. Other patterns to use would be stonefly nymphs, PT’s, mayfly nymphs, red copper John’s (fish seem to like the red in sz 16 and San Juan worms. The hoppers are out, so dry/dropper rigs are a good options. Work shaded banks and the pocket water. For streamer fishing work a sink tip line through the deeper holes and slots. Get close to the bottom, just might entice one of the big fish in the river.

Little Truckee

Flows are 84cfs. Always a good choice in the hot weather. The LT is a bottom release from Stampede which usually means the water stays colder. Best bets are nymphing with small bugs and dry or dry/dropper rigs. Use size 18 Beatis nymphs, PT’s, W-D 40s and San Juan worms. Variety of midges in sizes 18-22. For dry fly, hoppers are out and fish will take them. Try dropping a sz 18 or smaller bead head nymph underneath. Always be ready for a BWO hatch.

East Walker River

Flows are 108cfs. Fishing has been decent, but flows have been dropping steadily. Another River to watch the temps on, once it hits the 68-70 degree range quit fishing. Best fished early in the day. Getting around is tough as the willows along river are thick and overgrown. Plenty of mosquitos in the willows! Nymphing with San Juan worms and smaller (sz 16-18) red copper John’s has been effective for us. Also try flashback hares ears and PT’s. Caddis patterns are worth trying. Dry/dropper rigs are good bet as hoppers are active along river.

June 7th

Pyramid Lake

With only 3 weeks left in the season, Pyramid is starting to wind down. There are plenty of fish still being caught and still worth doing for sure but the signs of summer are starting to show. Weeds are starting to grow on the bottom in the shallows making it harder to fish a shooting head and the summer crowd of boaters and Jet Skiers are out in force. The water temperatures are climbing fast and will soon push what fish are left in the shallows out to deeper water for the summer. If you are planning to get another day in at the lake before in closes on June 30th then we recommend you either fish the first or last light bite for sure. Mornings seem to be the best when fish are feeding in low light and then sometime mid-morning you can find Callabaetis hatching. This pattern has made indicator fishing pretty productive almost every day regardless of the weather. Deeper beaches are the way to go in most cases but there are still some fish being caught at the south Nets on good North wind days as well. Black Maholo Nymphs are an awesome choice for either a top or bottom fly right now along with Balanced Leeches and Maholo Midges. Beetles are working better than Wooly Buggers for stripping flies mainly due to the fact that they stay out of the weeds a little better close to the bottom.

Truckee River

The river is in classic spring conditions. Warm weather and melting snow is keeping the flows up and Yo-Yoing up and down on a daily basis. The river is totally fishable (and floatable) from the Town of Truckee down through Reno and East of town. You have to use some common sense when wading and stay out of the river as much as possible. In higher water conditions fish tend to be pushed up against the banks and in slower water anyway. This is Green Drake season and any day we could start to see some Green Drakes popping in the evenings or during the day on cloudy days. Especially in the upper stretches. Caddis are starting to hatch on the lower river but the water is a little high to do much dry fly fishing. Nymphing with a Green Drake and a Caddis dropper is the way to go right now. Make sure you have some dries along just in case and keep an eye on seams and eddies in ow light conditions. Streamer fishing with a sink tip line during the middle of the day is also worth a try. Look for the flows to steadily drop as the snowmelt slows down over the next few weeks making the conditions even better. Flows are: Town of Truckee 274 CFS, Boca Bridge 713 CFS, Farad 909 CFS, Reno 727 CFS and Vista 796 CFS.

Little Truckee River

Flows are 366 CFS. That is humming along pretty good for the L.T. That puts the water outside the banks in most of the river. Still fishable but way different from what we are used to. At 366 CFS the Little Truckee has to be fished more like the Truckee. More weight, heavier flies and fished a little harder than normal. The high flows are a little confusing given the lack of water in Stampede Reservoir and the amount of water in the Truckee. Somewhere there are some 100 plus year old water rights regulations that say run the water regardless of the long term consequences. Anyway The Little Truckee will fish better once the flows are more under control and a little lower.

East Walker River

The East Walker is flowing at 244 CFS. Great flows for sure. The river is still crossable at these flows if you pick your spots. You have to fish the banks, seams and slower water out of the middle of the current. Fish will be staging in shallow water and can still be spooked easily. These are great flows for big dry and a dropper set up. Approach the water slowly and pick out some slower holding water and fish deliberately. If you can get set up on a spot without spooking any fish you can catch a big Rainbow or Brown Trout off guard and get some really good top water bites. Golden Stones and any big attractor dry will do the trick. It is more about a good stealthy first cast than the perfect fly. Nymphing is working well with either an indicator rig or High Sticking without one. Make sure you are using some weight along with your flies. At 244 CFS it is hard to get flies to the bottom on the East Walker. Mornings are the best time to be on the water for sure. This a great time to be on the East Walker as the flows are bound to drop and the water is bound to get too warm to fish sometime soon.

Davis Lake

The Damsels are starting to migrate and hatch. There is a good Blood Midge hatch and also some Callabaetis. It is go time for Davis and the next few weeks should be good. The Hexagenia hatch should be coming along in the next couple of weeks. A good way to fish Davis this time of year is to fish Blood Midges early under an indicator down 4-8 feet in 6-12 feet of water. Once you start to see boils on the surface then switch it up to a long 4X leader and a couple of Damsel Nymphs. You can either do this from a floating vessel or from shore in active areas. Normally the Damsels get going between 8:00 am and 9:00 am depending on the weather. The hatch usually starts to slow down around lunch time and then it is time to either go back to the Indicator rig or to put on a faster sinking line and strip or troll some smaller Wooly Buggers or Leaches. The afternoon fishing usually depends on the wind not being too strong but blowing enough to create some chop. There really is not much of an evening bite yet but that is going to change once the Hex’s get going.

Frenchman’s Reservoir

The fishing at Frenchman’s has been really good. Recent stockings have added some much needed fish to the lake. There has been a pretty good Callabaetis and Midge hatch on most mornings. On calm mornings there are plenty of rising fish eating just about anything. As the morning moves on and the fish move deeper, indicator rigs fished in 6-20 feet of water is the way to go. Stripping Snail Patterns with a sinking line is also effective this time of day. The water is already pretty warm and it will not be long until the fishing slows down. The warmer water is making the early part of the day the time to be fishing. The fish are smaller in Frenchman’s this year for a few reasons but they are there and catchable for sure.

May 17th

Pyramid Lake

A lot of us have forgotten about Pyramid now that we are in the 2nd half of May. Beaches are empty and the most popular spots on the lake only have a few anglers fishing them. This is one of the most underrated times of the season to fish Pyramid. The fish have come off the spawn and started to spread out around the lake and are feeding again. It is not so important to fish the wind or the stormy days if you know where to look for fish. The Pilot Peak strain is creeping into more shallow water and making themselves available to fly anglers on many beaches. Fish are being caught both Stripping Wooly’s and Beetles and hanging Nymphs and Midges under an indicator. Some of the beaches this time of year just hold fish and they can be caught on bad weather days but also on calm sunny days. You should fish the early morning bite for sure but fish can be found most of the day on deeper beaches away from the hatchery. There are a lot of younger fish being caught right now but there are some larger fish around for sure. If you love to fish Pyramid don’t give up now there are no crowds, the water is warm and the days much more tolerable. Look for this pattern to hang on until the water warms up to the low to mid 60’s when most of the fish will go for deeper water.

Truckee River

Lots of run-off and higher water from recent warm weather and storms. The river is very off colored from Boca Bridge down through Reno. The upper river from Truckee to Boca Bridge is in the best shape. The water is still not real clear but fishable for sure. The flows will probably be unstable for the next few weeks at least until some of the snow in the higher elevations melts. The fact that we are getting thunderstorms at the same time is making the flows hard to predict. This pattern is normal for this time of year but we have not experienced it for some time now due to drought conditions. Factor in that much of the river has lost a large portion of the fish population due to drought makes it even tougher. If you are going to fish the river over the next couple of weeks you should probably look to the upper river for better flows and more fish. We have had some bugs start to hatch and going forward look for Green Drakes, Caddis and Little Yellow Stones to be going strong into June. Flows are: Town of Truckee 414 CFS, Boca Bridge 827 CFS, Farad 970 CFS, Reno 737 CFS and Visa 932 CFS.

Little Truckee River

The flows have been bumped on the L.T. over the past week from 30 CFS to 78 CFS. It was really off colored for the first few days but it is now starting to settle in at the new flow. The fishing can only benefit from the higher flows. The fish were getting pounded on with the Truckee fishing so poorly and the flows so low. If it stays at 78 CFS for a while it will start to fish way better. There is no end in sight to the fishing pressure the L.T. is going to receive so get used to it. If you want to get in some quality time on the river go early and stake your claim to the better runs and wait for the hatch to start. Kind of a bummer way to fish the river but if you don’t one of the local guides will. Don’t be afraid to tell other anglers you are fishing a run and resting it as well. If you move out of a good spot you will probably not get it back during any hatch. Anglers that pound on the L.T. are not catching many fish. These fish are smart and have to be fooled not only by the flies but amount of drifts and timing of the hatch. Once you learn these tricks you will do much better on the Little Truckee. Let’s hope the flows stay in the range they are now for a while.

East Walker River

The East Walker is flowing at 207 CFS. This is a jump up from 100 CFS a week ago. The water is pretty cloudy. The flows are great however the East Walker has also experienced some fish kill from last summer’s drought. There are more fish in the East Walker than the Truckee but it is still pretty tough. There have been some fish planted on the Nevada side and they will eventually spread out into the fly fishing water in both states. Some larger Browns have been reported chowing on big dries and chasing streamers in the higher water. With the flows in the 200 CFs range look to fish edges and seems off the main channels. Fish usually hang out in shallow slower moving water this time of year anyway. At 200 CFS crossing is possible and some of the larger runs can still be accessible. Cross your fingers that the wild fish in the East Walker get a chance to reproduce and have a few good water years so we can get back to some really good fishing in the future.

Frenchman’s Reservoir

The water is already 60 degrees on the surface. The water is low and there is already talk of removing the boat dock in July. For some reason the area surrounding Frenchman’s did not receive the kind of winter we expected. The fishing has been outstanding but it may be short lived. The recent stocking of the lake has helped fishing for sure. Big Midges and Callabaetis have been hatching in the mid-morning and fish are actively feeding on them. Indicator Midging is hard to beat right now but have a dry fly rod in case you get some fish working the surface. Carpenter Ants and Callabaetis dries are the way to go. The fish are on the smaller side but don’t get picky and enjoy the opportunity to catch some fish. The fishing should remain really good through the end of June at least.

Davis Lake

It is still on the early side for Davis. The lake is supposed to get some new fish this week and that should help the bite. Blood Midges are out in force and the best way to target fish right now is hanging Albino Wino’s under an indicator in 6-12 feet of water. A lot of the bugs in the lake right now are in deeper water because the lake has come up and a lot of the shallow part of the lake was dry a few months ago. Davis has come up enough to make the boat ramps usable again and may stay that way through most of the year. There are some really big fish in Davis but just not too many of them. Hopefully the lake gets enough new fish through stocking to help the fish population make its way back. Davis will probably be challenging this year but the opportunity to catch a 5 pound Rainbow is there. jimmy.sheeran@me.com

May 3rd

Pyramid Lake

May is here and the spring spawn is really winding down. The Hatchery is closed until next spring and fish around the Nets area are thinning out. The water is still in the mid to high 50’s and there are some fish around to catch. There is usually a slow period around the full moon in April co-inciting with the spawn and then the fishing picks back up in May sometime on some of the other beaches around the lake. There is a Callabaetis hatch starting to happen and should go on for a few weeks. There are also plenty of Midges around as well. The south end of the lake is clearing up and loaded with Cui-Ui right now. The area around the hatchery is pretty slow unless you are there on a windy day with some mud lines and rollers coming in. The North end of the lake usually fishes better this time of year but it has been slow as well. There are some 2-3 year old Pilot Peak Cutty’s around Monument and Warrior. We have some more weather coming in this week so we should see some more good days coming up but there are more slow ones for sure. On good days fish are still being caught with shooting heads and Indicator rigs. White Ghost Tadpoles and Olive Martini Wooly’s are a great combo for shooting heads and don’t be afraid to tie on two foam flies if you start getting into moss and goo on the bottom. For Indicator rigs a black or red Maholo nymph and an Albino Wino dropper is going to be hard to beat. Fish the weather and check the wind forecast on our website before you go.

Truckee River

The river is running pretty hard but fishable right now for sure. It really has not been warm enough in the high mountains to have a ton of run-off and the Yo Yo effect for the past week so flows have been steady. The water is also fairly clear. The Nevada side has gotten at least two stockings of small catchable trout in the past few weeks and some of the parks are fishing pretty well. These fish are put in the river to provide anglers with some fish to catch but are small and don’t stick around for very long. You can usually find them for a week or two after the stocking in popular places Like Idyllwild, Crystal Peak and Dorokstar Parks as well as any bridges that cross the river and offer easy access for stocking trucks. The canyon section of the California side is a good place to go if you are looking for larger wild trout. Nymphing or streamer fishing is worth a try and keep your eyes open for the seasons Carpenter Ant hatch. It could happen anytime now. For nymphs try a Green Drake and a smaller dropper like a Pheasant Tail. Have some foam Loco Ants with you just in case. Fish the edges and be careful wading. The water looks a lot lower than it is. There is a lot of current and can be tricky. The fish are most likely holding in slower water and edges of the river anyway. Flows are: Town of Truckee 194 CFS, Boca Bridge 608 CFS, Farad 712 CFS, Reno 605 CFS and Vista 504 CFS.

Little Truckee River

Flows are 35 CFS. The river has been running very low for a while now. Not a surprise for the flows to be low during the run off period. The good news is water is being held back to help Stampede Reservoir and hopefully help this summer’s flows on the L.T. Fishing the Little Truckee right now requires a stealthy approach for sure. The flows are very low and fish are spooky. There is somewhat of a Baetis hatch on cloudy days but for the most part Nymphing with light tippet and very small flies is the way to go. Try San Juan Worms, Midges and Baetis nymphs. The middle of the day is the best time to be on the water right now in cold water conditions.

Davis Lake

Davis has come up enough to where the boat ramps are useable again. There is still plenty of snowpack flowing into the lake another storm or two on the way for the area. Good news for fishing Davis this year. As for now the lake is a little off colored and the fishing has been somewhat tough. There is a planned stocking this week which will help for sure. It may be a little early to fish Davis right now but it should start to pick up very soon. Fishing in deep water with Midges under an indicator is probably your best bet right now. The carpenter ants could hatch around Davis as early as next week if we get some warm weather. Blood Midges should also be around soon.

April 4th

Pyramid Lake

Pyramid is in great shape and fishing really well. This is the time of year most anglers look forward to. There are lots of Summit Lake strain fish in shallow water looking to spawn. It has been pretty hard to catch the Pilot Peak strain around the hatchery right now and the bigger fish are being caught in other places around the lake. The weather like always plays a huge role day to day at the lake. Cloudy windy days are the best for sure. High pressure sunny no wind days are pretty tough. The lake is as crowded as it has been in years. This is going to be the case for the next month for sure. If you don’t like to fish on crowded beaches then try the extreme North or South end of the lake at spots like Howard’s Bay, Nine Mile or Warrior Point. There are plenty of fish cruising the drop offs and you will see experienced anglers backing up their ladders and staying further away from the fish. This really helps on calmer days when fish tend to get spooky and lock jaw. Fish are being caught several different ways but over the past week stripping Wooly buggers and Tadpoles have been doing the best. Nymphing has been a little slow but as the water warms we should start to see more bugs and nymphs and midges will be the way to go. White Ghost Tadpoles, Olive martini’s, Bloody Mary’s are all good choices for stripping flies and Maholo Midges like the Albino Wino or Copper Wino are doing well under an indicator.

Truckee River

The river is in spring mode and run off is making the river Yo-yo up and down on almost a daily basis. The river is fishable for sure but make sure you check the flows before you go and use some caution wading. Especially below Boca Bridge in California down through Reno where the flows are pretty high. The canyon section in California is fishing the best right now where there are more fish. Nymphing with a Stonefly or a Green Drake Nymph with a smaller dropper like a Copper John is a good way to go but make sure you use some extra weight to get your flies down in the higher water. Fishing the edges out of the main current is also a good idea. Streamer fishing with a sink tip line or a floating line and a heavy streamer is also a good way to go right now. Look for the river to continue to have up and down flows with the changing weather for another month or so. Flows are: Town of Truckee 204, Boca Bridge 808 CFS, Farad 909 CFS, Reno 844 CFS and Vista 945 CFS.

Little Truckee River

There is some access now since we have had some warm weather and the snow on the road to the Little Truckee has melted. The flows are low at 39 CFS. There has been somewhat of a Baetis and Midge hatch on cloudy days but it is hard to count on. Nymphing with small flies in 18-22 on 6X tippet has been doing the best. Baetis, San Juan’s and Midges are the top flies right now and should be until the PMD hatch starts in a couple of months. With flows this low be stealthy, make fewer casts and observe the water before jumping right in.

February 9th

Pyramid Lake

Pyramid has been fishing really well for the first part of February. The water is at its wintertime low of 42 degrees but it has not hurt the fishing lately. There have been some 20 fish days out there and also some big fish caught. There are some early schools of Summit Lake strain Cutty’s cruising the shallows already. Seems a little strange since we are having our first real winter in a while. Weather is still playing a part and we are due for a really warm calm week so we’ll see if anything changes. The water should come up a degree or two by the end of the week but the lake is supposed to be really calm. The first light bite is worth doing and especially this week with high sun and calm weather. Fish are eating just about everything. Wooly’s Beetles, Balanced Leeches, Nymphs and even Midges already. For stripping a Martini Olive Wooly Bugger with a White Ghost Tadpole trailer is hard to beat. For Nymphing for be sure to have a Maholo Nymph on top in Red or Red with a white bead. The bottom fly can be an Albino Wino, another Maholo Nymph or a size 8 balanced Leech in Root beer or White. The depths have changed at some of the beaches so make sure you have your flies set correctly.

Truckee River

The flows on the Truckee are awesome. The river is flowing at its normal flow for this time of year just about all the way from Truckee through Reno. The fishing has been as good as can be expected given all the variables. The canyon section in California has been the best mainly due to a higher number of fish in this section after the summer drought. The Nevada side is fishing o.k. and the flows are outstanding. Nymphing with a small Winter Stone and a smaller dropper like a Baetis is a great way to go and there have even been some fish chasing some small streamers as well. The warmer weather we are supposed to get this week could change the conditions fast. Expect the river to swell and start to Yo Yo some later this week. It could even get blown out for a couple of days until some of the lower elevation snowpack melts. Keep an eye on the flows before you go. Flows are: Town of Truckee 73 CFS, Boca Bridge 355 CFS, Farad 379 CFS, Reno 340 CFS and Vista 434 CFS.

Little Truckee River

Flows on the Little Truckee are 52 CFS. The problem is the road is closed and covered with snow. It is not accessible by car right now and you have to have some other means of getting there. If you can or if the snow melts some this week the fishing is pretty good. There is a pretty good Baetis hatch as well as some Midges. It will be interesting to see how this week’s warm weather changes things. Take some light tippet in 6X and small flies in 18-20 like Baetis wets and dries and Midges. Fish in the middle of the day and be careful on the roads.

East Walker River

Run off is not effecting the East Walker due to its approximation to Bridgeport Reservoir. The flows however are going to stay low as water is saved in the Reservoir. 20 CFS is where it is now and probably going to stay until irrigation season starts in April. If you are going to go fish the middle of the day and use a stealthy approach. Small flies like Baetis, Midges and San Juan Worms are the way to go. The weather should be nice down there this week but the fishing has been tough with the low flows.

January 12th

Pyramid Lake

The lake continues to produce some really nice fish. As winter rolls on and storm systems continue to roll through, the fishing follows suit. We have not had this kind of a start to the January fishing in a few years. Weather helps Pyramid and the fishing all season long and it is being proven once again. The best days to fish at Pyramid Lake are days with some wind and come cloud cover. The storms systems that keep moving through the area are giving us the type of days needed to catch fish even with the water in the low 40’s and air temperatures in the 20’s and 30’s. The last couple of winters brought nothing more than blue bird sunny days and slow fishing. This year is different.

This is not the time of year to expect to catch a lot of fish. Colder water in the shallows pushes most of the fish into deep water. What we are seeing are smaller groups of fish or even single fish moving in and out of fishable water and then back out into the depths. A typical day at the lake is in the 1 to 6 fish day with some zero’s and some double digit days mixed in. If you can pick your fishing days try to go on a cloudy and or windy day. This should help the fishing and make time of day not as important. If you are at the lake on a calm sunny day then try to be there for either first light or last light.

Other than that it is really about just putting in your time. Fish are being caught on all types of flies right now and it is really more about the fly and the fish finding each other. White Ghost Tadpoles fished with a Midnight Cowboy or a Bloody Mary Wooly Bugger are tough to beat for shooting heads. Red Maholo Nymphs size 12 with either a gold or white bead or Pyramid Lake Balanced Leeches in Root beer or Olive size 8 for Indicator Nymphing. Location has not been that important except for trying to get the wind in your face. Reports of big fish are coming from all over the lake so it is a great time to explore and try some new spots. This type of pattern should remain for the next month or so if we continue to get more storms.

Truckee River

The river is in great shape right now. It is in winter conditions which mean flows are on the low side, there can be some ice in and around the water on colder days and when it warms up run off can mess with the flows a little. Not much is going to change for a few years on the population of fish so we just have to get used to it. The best places to get out on the river right now are either the canyon section on the California side or East of Reno on the Nevada side. The entire river is fishable right now. The best time of day is early afternoons when the sun is high and the water is maybe a degree or two warmer. Small flies like Baetis Nymphs, Winter Stones and Midges are going to be your best bet. If you are East of Reno you could also run into a Baetis hatch so maybe have a few dries with you as well. Especially on cloudy days. Flows are: Town of Truckee 59 CFS, Boca Bridge 123 CFS, Farad 151 CFS, Reno 91 CFS and Vista 149 CFS.

Little Truckee River

Flows are 48 CFS. Great flows for sure. The problem is the road is closed and covered in snow from Boca Reservoir up. This is a really good problem for the area to have and the snowpack is going to make for some better conditions this spring and going forward. Hang in there and keep your fingers crossed for some more snow.

East Walker River

Flows on the East Walker River 18 CFS and there is anchor ice everywhere. It has been really cold in the Bridgeport area and coupled with low flows, the East Walker is really not fishable right now. It may be a while before conditions change.

January 7th

Pyramid Lake

Pyramid has been fishing pretty good overall. It seems to have picked up in the last couple of weeks. There are still plenty of tough days out there but the number of fish caught has gone up some and there are more fish eating Nymphs for sure. Kind of weird for it to actually pick up in the beginning of January but we will take it. The water is right around the normal winter time lows at 43 degrees. The water should stay in this range for a month or two now. There are more fish being caught in the middle of the day now as well. The best days to fish are still going to be ones with a little wind or some clouds but you can get some grabs just about any day right now. The fish are still spread out all over and this is a good time of year to explore and fish some new water.

Dragging Olive Martini Wooly Worms, Bloody Marys, Loco White Ghost Tadpoles and Chartreuse and White Beetles are as good as anything on the shooting head set up. Red, Black or Wine Maholo nymphs are starting to catch a good number of fish under the indicator. Balance Leeches in Root Beer or Olive are also doing well. Don’t forget about the February 19th Pyramid Lake Celebration at the Nugget Resort in Reno. For more information go to: http://pyramidlakeflyfishing.com/education/pyramid-lake-celebration/

Truckee River

Flows are up some from recent storms moving through the area. There is also some ice on the edges and even some floating ice chunks in the river as well. To fish the Truckee right now you have to really get out there and find some open water and some wade able areas. The Canyon Section in California is probably your best bet and East of Reno is also worth a shot where the water is a little warmer. Baetis Nymphs are the way to go right now. They can be fished in tandem or with a little larger fly as the point either high sticking or under an indicator. The best time to go is in the middle of the day into late afternoon for sure. Be careful wading. Flows are: Town of Truckee 57 CFS, Boca Bridge 136 CFS, Farad 156 CFS, Reno 160 and Vista 178 CFS.

Little Truckee River

The road to the Little Truckee is not plowed and starting to play a huge role in just being able to get to the river. The flows on the river are 48 CFS which is not bad for this time of year. The hurdle is getting there. The road conditions change a lot but right now there is snow covering the entire stretch leading to the pull outs. If you can get there take some small flies in 18-20 like Baetis and Midges. Be patient and go in the middle of the day. There are some Baetis hatching some days but be prepared to fish nymphs and have some dries ready. These conditions could be around for a while.

East Walker River

Flows are 22 CFS and there is ice everywhere. It has been extremely cold around Bridgeport and it is affecting the river right now for sure. It is probably a good Idea to wait until it warms up a bit.

December 8th

Pyramid Lake

As the winter starts to set in and water temperatures continue to drop at Pyramid it will bring some changes to fishing the lake. Fishing over the past couple of weeks has been pretty tough overall. There have been some really big fish caught on almost a daily basis but it is a long time between grabs. The last few days have shown some promise and the latest reports have started to seem better. The water temperature is around 48 degrees right but can vary some depending where you are. It has been slowly cooling and at some point later this month it should drop to the 43 degrees or 44 degrees mark.

Most of the big fish caught this fall have been stripping Wooly Buggers, Beetles and Tadpoles right on the bottom. The indicator bite has been really tough. The fish that are in close enough to catch from shore seem to want something moving for sure. If you are going to the lake sometime soon make sure you bring your shooting head and spend most of your time using it. White Ghost Loco Tadpoles have easily been our best fly for big fish. Black Wooly Buggers have been catching fish as well but it seems the White Tadpole is attracting all the big fish. Fish are being caught all day right now just one here and one there. The evening bit we had a couple of weeks ago has slowed a bit but it is still worth staying till dark. Cloudy days have been the best for sure but there is low light this time of year anyway and you never know when a big lone cruiser is going to take your fly. IF you are going to use the indicator rig Maholo Nymphs in black or red have been the best for nymphs and Pyramid Lake Balanced Leeches in White Ghost or Midnight Cowboy in choppy water.

Truckee River

The Truckee is still very low but fishable for sure. There are two main sections that seem to be fishing fairly well right now. The canyon section in California and the stretch of river East of Reno. The good news is there have been some fish caught which means that we did not lose all the fish this summer to extreme water temperatures and low flows. We are going to have to get used to less fish in the river for a while but it is looking better. The best flows right now are East of Reno where the river is flowing over 100 CFS. The California side is much lower but there is plenty of fishable water. Nymphing with Baetis, Midges and small Winter Stoneflies are all worth a shot. The water is low and “High Sticking” is a great way to go but indicator rigs can also be used. There is a sporadic Baetis hatch east of town if you are out there on a cloudy day. Flows are: Town of Truckee 39 CFS, Boca Bridge 73 CFS, Farad 92 CFS, Reno 54 CFS and Vista 113 CFS.

Little Truckee River

Flows on the Little Truckee are 48 CFS. These are great flows for December. There is no problem getting into the L.T. right now and it is worth fishing for sure. We are used to seeing the river in the 30 CFS range this time of year. The improvements done to the stream has really added some habitat and spread out the fish and at 48 CFS this is a great time to go. Normal winter patterns exist and the available food in the river right now is mainly Baetis and Midges. Small flies in size 18-22 fished on 5X or even 6X tippet is a must. The middle of the day is the best time to go when the water may be a little warmer. If you can get up there on a cloudy day even better. We are expecting some weather later this week and hopefully at some point we will get enough snow in the area which will make it impossible to get too.

East Walker River

Flows on the East Walker River are down to 20 CFS. At these flows and the cold normal wintertime air temperatures in the Bridgeport area, the East Walker is a risky drive. Anchor Ice is prevalent on the river and it is really tough to fish. If you are going to go the afternoons are the best bet for open water. Keep an eye on the flows and the weather for a better time to hit the East Walker.

November 10th

Pyramid Lake

What a difference a week makes. The colder weather has finally arrived with the first good snowfall on the valley floor in a long time. The water temperatures at the lake were already starting to drop a bunch and it looks like that will continue. The fishing at Pyramid has really started to improve over the past 10 days or so and some really big fish have been caught as well. The pattern is right in line with what happened last fall. Great fishing from deeper in the lake in October followed by a slow period at the end of the month into the first part of November. Then sometime in mid-November thru mid-December the fishing was outstanding. Then the water and air temperatures forced most of the fish out in deeper water and the fishing slowed again thru about the beginning of February. So basically now is the time to go to Pyramid before winter sets in. Every day is not going to be great but this is one of the best times of the year to target big fish.

The water temperatures have fallen into the mid 50’s and will continue to drop steadily over the next month or so and get down to the low 40’s which is the normal low water temperatures for the lake in the winter. The water is still warm enough that the fish are really active, have a lot of energy and are chasing flies using very fast retrieves right on the bottom. It is not nearly as important to be out in the lake anymore as fish are cruising many beaches with moderate to deep drop offs. This is a great time of year to practice your shooting head skills and catch some fish in the meantime. Dark colored Tadpoles like Northern Lights or Loco Olive have been working well. Vince Young of Bakersfield caught and released a 17 pound Pilot Peak Cutthroat while fishing with Guide Chris Evison this week using a size 4 Green Tadpole. They also caught many other fish as well with the same fly. Superfast strips were the key. Maholo nymphs have also been working well for those who prefer to indicator fish. Red, Black and Wine are all worth a try in size 12. Look for the bite to remain good until the water starts to get into the mid 40’s in a month or so.

Truckee River

The Truckee is starting to fluctuate a little with the storms, especially on the lower river. It is still really low and tough to fish. There have been some anglers fishing the river in the canyon section on the California side but it is also very low. The water east of town has really been up and down due to rain and snow. The Truckee is a different river than we are used to fishing and it is going to be a long time before it has a chance to get really healthy again with wild fish. Hopefully the much needed moisture we are starting to receive is going to continue this winter and the process can start sooner than later. Flows are: Town of Truckee 17 CFS, Boca Bridge 81 CFS, Farad 101 CFS, Reno 75 CFS and Vista 199 CFS.

Davis Lake

Davis has been fairly slow and never really turned on this fall. There were some good days to be on the water but we never got a good stretch. This is probably due to the low numbers of fish in the lake because of the low water levels and lack of stocking the past two years. The lake is starting to freeze is some places now and is a little iffy at best for fly fishing. Davis really needs to fill back up this winter and have a good number of fish put back into it next spring.

Frenchman’s Reservoir

Frenchman’s has been fishing outstanding for the past few weeks. The lake is really low and the fish have been very active and not hard to find. The weather is going to determine how long it is fishable going forward due to it freezing over as well. It may already be too late but keep an eye on the weather and also the road conditions getting there. If you can get to the lake your best bet is to fish Maholo Nymphs and Midges under an indictor from shore in a deep drop off area or a tube. It is going to be cold so dress warm. Slow stripping snail patterns with a sink tip line is also working well.

Little Truckee River

The Little Truckee has been flowing at around 50 CFS for over a week now. That is really good for this time of year. At 50 CFS the Kokanee and Brown Trout that spawn in the river this time of year can manage their way from Boca Reservoir throughout the system. The flows re usually between 15 CFS and 30 CFS by November. Access is going to be an issue with recent snow in the area. The road to the Little Truckee does not get plowed and is day to day right now. Baetis and Midges are still around and will be hatching on the river throughout the winter on the right day. It tends to be more sporadic for sure this time of year. Nymphing with really small nymphs and midges on 5X tippet is the way to go unless there are some rising fish nearby. The restoration project done on the river earlier in the year has helped create more habitat for fish on the river for sure. If you have not seen what has been done it is worth the hike up through the meadow section above Boca for sure. Keep an eye on the roads and the snowpack if you plan on going to the L.T.

October 27th

Pyramid Lake

Pyramid has really slowed down over the past few weeks. The warm weather continues to keep water temperatures in the low to mid 60’s on the surface. Most of the Tui Chubs have moved away from the West side of the lake and it seems as though the fish have gone with them. Good reports have been hard to come by lately but there have still been some fish caught in 10-25 feet of water around some of the deeper beaches. Size 4 Pyramid Lake Balanced Minnows fished on a very fast sinking line without an indicator has been the way to go this fall for sure. Smaller size 8 Balanced Leeches have also been working under an indicator on the drop offs. Midnight Cowboy colors have been hard to beat but white, Root Beer and Olive Martini have also been effective. Cooler weather is approaching over the next week and will help bring down the water temperatures. Once the water cools the fishing should pick back up for a while until winter sets in.

Davis Lake

Davis has been on the tough side for a while now. Warm water temperatures continue to prevail. There has been some good spot and stalk sight fishing in shallow water on the right days but it is hard to count on. There is some cooler weather on the way and hopefully the fishing will continue to get better for the next few weeks. Stripping small Wooly Buggers and Snail patterns with an intermediate line in 4-12 feet of water is always a good fall pattern. Hanging Blood Midges under an indicator is also effective. The boat ramp is not really usable and probably will not be until next spring. It is easy right now to launch a tube or pontoon boat from the West side of the lake.

Frenchman’s Reservoir

Frenchman’s has been fishing really well. The lake is only at 24% capacity and is not accessible from a boat but float tubers have been having some good days. The old adage of more fish in a smaller pond is helping the fishing at Frenchman’s for sure right now with the low water. Maholo Nymphs and Midges fished under an indicator in 6-15 feet of water has been working really well. Stripping or back trolling Wooly Buggers and a Snail pattern dropper with a type two sinking line is also producing some fish.

Truckee River

Not much has changed on the Truckee as far as flows. It is still really low and in tough shape. There have been some anglers fishing the river in the canyon section on the California side but it is also very low. The Truckee is a different river than we are used to fishing and it is going to be years before it has a chance to get really healthy again with wild fish. Hopefully we get some much needed moisture this winter and the process can start sooner than later. Flows are: Town of Truckee 4 CFS, Boca Bridge 63 CFS, Farad 77 CFS, Reno 39 CFS and Vista 64 CFS.

October 13th

Pyramid Lake

Pyramid continues to fish pretty good all things considered. It is a little tough from shore or a ladder due to the warmer than normal water temperatures for this time of year coming in at 65-68 degrees. There are some fish cruising in close enough to catch but they do not stay long and it is a long time between bites. There are still plenty of Tui Chub Minnows in the shallows and it tends to draw in some fish from time to time. The Midnight Cowboy size 8 Balanced Leech fished under an indicator has been our top fly while ladder fishing most of the season. The grass is starting to die off and it is getting easier to strip Buggers and Beetles along the bottom. The dying grass can still get stacked up on the bottom and be a problem.

This has been a tremendous October fishing from Float Tubes and Pontoon Boats. The Bait Balls of Tui Chubs are out in force along the West side of the lake and it is keeping fish active and feeding. Most of the action seems to be in 20-30 feet of water where the water is 4 or 5 degrees cooler. Deep water indicator rigs have not been too effective due to the fish seemingly wanting the fly to be moving fast. You are better off with a fast sinking shooting head with a sinking running line. This will allow you to get down to the level of the fish. Deep Water Wooly Buggers in Midnight Cowboy and Root Beer have been working well. We have also been fishing Pyramid Lake Balanced Minnows in size 4 using this set up. These flies have a ton of weight and a beefy hook. They ride perfectly in the water when the fly starts to ascend through the water column. The fly will jig up and down really well during pauses in your retrieve. We have had fish follow the fly right to the boat and grab it as it is coming out of the water.

The water is going to start to cool and this pattern is going to change over the coming weeks. We will start to see the bait ease back into the depths of the lake and the fish will start to cruise the shelves sometime soon as we see cooling weather.

Davis Lake

Warm fall weather in the Portola area has slowed the fishing at Davis somewhat. The water temperatures are still in the low to mid 60’s. Fish are feeding a lot on microscopic Daphnia and are hard to catch right now. The weed beds are dying back already and creating some lanes to fish in shallow water. As the water cools over the next few weeks this pattern should change and put the fish on high alert for the fall feed. Rainbow Trout in the lake usually get really aggressive as winter approaches and will take a variety of flies. Wiggle Tail Nymphs and small Wooly Buggers fished with a sinking line in 6-12 feet of water is a great way to go. There should be a Blood Midge hatch throughout the fall and fishing Maholo Midges under an indicator is also a great way to go. Keep an eye on the reports and we will let you know when the fishing starts to go.

Truckee River

The water is in great shape. The only problem is there is not much of it. Flows remain low on almost all of the river. This is going to sound like a broken record but it may be a while before the Truckee comes back to life. If you are going to fish the Truckee the Canyon section is probably your best bet. There is a little more water in this section and more elevation change. This creates more oxygen in the river with more white water and tumbling pools. Nymphing is the best way to go. You can “High Stick” an October Caddis with a smaller dropper in some of the deeper spots. Flows are: Town of Truckee 6 CFS, Boca Bridge 87 CFS, Farad 102 CFS, Reno 67 CFS and Vista 100 CFS.

Little Truckee River

Flows are 47 CFS and have been for some time. This is actually not bad for October. Long term average flows for this time of year are only around 32 CFS. The Little Truckee is a great option for local stream fishing right now. The Baetis have been hatching sporadically. The hatch is usually better on cloudy days. It is a late morning hatch and can last for a couple of hours. Midges are also out and about. Nymphing with size 18-22 Baetis and Midges on 5X or 6X tippet is working well. A stealthy approach is necessary and a great dead drift also. There is a lot of drifting grass and moss in the river right now and it is very important to check your flies on almost every cast. This actually is not a bad thing because the Little Truckee is not a river where you can just pound the water anyway. The grass make anglers take their time and place flies better and work on their technique. The fishing should remain good unless the flows drop below 30 CFS again.

East Walker River

The East Walker River is in really bad shape. The flows are below 20 CFS. The fish have had a really tough time this summer with warm water and it could be a while until the East Walker is a viable option again. Stay tuned for more information soon.

October 6th

Pyramid Lake

Pyramid Lake opened on October 1st with a bang. There have been some really big fish caught already and plenty of them. Boaters and anglers fishing from the water in Pontoons and Float Tubes have been doing the best. The surface water temperature is still between 66 and 68 degrees and it is keeping most of the fish in 20 plus feet of water. There are some fish being caught from shore and ladders but it has been far less productive. If you are fishing from shore target the beaches that have deeper drop offs and try to find some bait balls (Tui Chubs) as they can be close to shore in these areas.

Pyramid Lake Balanced Leeches in size 4 and 8 have been the top fly for sure. These flies were designed to fish under an indicator but some anglers have been fishing them on a shooting head as well in deep water. Deep Water Wooly Buggers are also working well from Tubes in 20-30 feet of water. There is still some grass on many of the beaches and it has made it difficult to drag Wooly’s and Beetles on the bottom from shore. Two Beetles are worth a try if you are getting grass on your retrieves. Nymphing with a size 8 Midnight Cowboy Balanced Leech has been really effective from both shore and in tubes with a deep water indicator leader.

Warm weather is supposed to stick around for the next week and the conditions could remain the same for the next week or two. Colder weather and water is on its way however so keep an eye on the reports to see when more fish start to roam the shelves.

Davis Lake

Warm weather in the Portola area has Davis in late summer mode. The water is still really warm and the fish are a little lazy. The fish have been feeding on Daphnia and this makes them even tougher to catch. Early mornings are the best time to fish right now up until around lunch time. There is somewhat of a Callabaetis and Midge hatch and there are some fish to be found in shallow water on the right day. Nymphing with small blood midges like the Albino Wino and the Banded Midge have been catching fish under an indicator and slow stripping Stillwater Leeches and Wooly Buggers with a type 3 sinking line has as well. Look for Davis to improve soon after we get some cooler weather.

Truckee River

Not much has changed as far as flows on the Truckee. The water is really low throughout most of the river and fishing is tough or non-existent in some areas. The water temperatures have cooled a bunch, especially on the California side. The canyon section on the Cali side has the most water and is really the only stretch of river that is remotely fishable at 100 CfS. The normal flows for this time of year is 400 CFS. The flows are going to remain low until we start to get some rain and snow. There are other options for fishing in the area right now.

Little Truckee River

Flows are up to 45 CFS. The restoration project on the river went really well and is over for now. The flows are back to right around normal for this time of year. The Baetis hatch has been stalled somewhat by the warm weather but there are some bugs coming off mid-morning. Nymphing with 6x tippet and size 18-22 Baetis Nymphs and Midges is always a good way to go this time of year. Have some Baetis dries in your box and keep an eye out for rising fish. The water is low so approach runs and holes with a stealthy approach and observe an area before jumping in. Conditions should remain for the next week or so at least.

September 15th

Truckee River

The water temperatures have come down some on the river which is the good news. Hopefully water temperatures don’t come into play for the survival of the fish until next summer now. The bad news is the flows are still really low and probably won’t change until we start to see some rain and or snow this fall. The bad news part 2 is that most of the fish did not make it through the summer. Between anglers taking advantage of fish pooled up in shallow water in many spots on the river, very warm low water and some predators, there are just not many fish left. The pools that two months ago had as many as 1000 fish fighting for their lives are down to in many cases 20-50 fish. The good news part 2 is that some fish are going to make it and eventually the river could get naturally repopulated but it is going to take years of good water conditions. Thank you to all the anglers who left the fish alone this summer.

Davis Lake

Davis is starting to pick up. The water temperatures are dropping despite a very warm spell last week. Fish are rising in the mornings and eating emerging Blood Midges which carries right into a Callabaetis hatch by late morning. Access is a huge issue for boat anglers with the low water. A better idea is to fish from shore or from a tube or pontoon boat. There are some fish in very shallow water right now so you just have to hit it on the right day and keep your eyes peeled. Nymphing with Albino Wino’s under an indicator is also a great way to fish right now. The fishing should only get better and let’s hope for a good fall season at Davis.

Little Truckee River

The Little Truckee is down to 9 CFS. This is a huge bummer considering there is not much water in Boca Reservoir either. The Little Truckee system has most likely taken a fish count plunge as well. The Little Truckee is not a very good option at these flows and it is advisable to wait until the flows come up.

Pyramid Lake

Pyramid opens October 1st. There are already plenty of Tui Chubs schooling up around some of the deeper drop off beaches. The water is in the high 60’s on the surface and has a shot at staying in that range for the next 10 days at least. Hopefully we can get some cooler weather before the end of the month to help. Once the lake opens fish areas that offer access to deeper water for shore fisherman. Block House, Sand Hole and all along the South West Shoreline has this type of access. Some anglers will look to spend some time in their tubes or pontoon boats as well. If you are one of those anglers use some common sense and don’t fish alone and watch the weather. Banded Balanced Leeches and Maholo Nymphs fished in deep water under an indicator is going to be a good way to go. Try water in the 10-25 feet range. Deep Water Wooly Buggers fished on a fast sinking line is also going to catch some fish in the same depth range. A lot of the more shallow beaches will most likely have grass issues for shooting head anglers. Jigging techniques will help to keep your flies or lures out of the grass.

September 8th

Truckee River

The river is as low as it has been for many years. The highest flow on September 8th 2015 is around Farad on the California side at 100 CFS. This areas long term average flow is 500 CFS. This is the good news. The river is flowing less than 20 CFS on the Nevada side until you get east of town and then it is still only 60 CFS. We are expecting some way above average air temperatures over the next week so for now let the river rest.

Davis Lake

Davis just started to fish o.k. the last few days but it looks like the heat is back for a week or so. The water temperatures are in the mid 60’s on average but they could climb a little this week. It is important to be on the water early or late for the best fishing right now. There’s not a ton of bugs but any active fish will eat a Damsel Nymphs or Blood Midges. Smaller Wooly Buggers in fall colors are working pretty well fished with a slow sinking line. There is a lot of grass and weed beds in the lake. Points, Drop-offs and weed edges are all worth a try in about 6-15 feet of water. Look for the fishing to improve after the heat spell that is moving into the area this week. There are good reports that the boat ramp at Honker Cove is really hard to use. If you take a boat to Davis be ready for a tough launch.

Pyramid Lake

Pyramid opens October 1st. There are already plenty of Tui Chubs schooling up around some of the deeper drop off beaches. The water is in the high 60’s on the surface and has a shot at staying in that range for the next 10 days at least. Hopefully we can get some cooler weather before the end of the month to help. Once the lake opens fish areas that offer access to deeper water for shore fisherman. Block House, Sand Hole and all along the South West Shoreline has this type of access. Some anglers will look to spend some time in their tubes or pontoon boats as well. If you are one of those anglers use some common sense and don’t fish alone and watch the weather. Banded Balanced Leeches and Maholo Nymphs fished in deep water under an indicator is going to be a good way to go. Try water in the 10-25 feet range. Deep Water Wooly Buggers fished on a fast sinking line is also going to catch some fish in the same depth range. A lot of the more shallow beaches will most likely have grass issues for shooting head anglers. Jigging techniques will help to keep your flies or lures out of the grass.

Little Truckee River

The Little Truckee is under ongoing restoration projects and has been cut back to 16 CFS. Let’s hope this ends soon and they can raise the flows some. There is not much water in Boca and the water in the entire Little Truckee system is low and warm. Most if not all anglers are staying away until the flows increase.

September 1st

Davis Lake

The water is starting to cool fast. The lake is fishable right now for sure. The lake is very low probably lower than most of us have seen it. The boat Ramp at Honker Cove is still usable but barely. Be careful launching. Float Tubers need to pick their launching spots to get around the expansive weed beds in the lake right now. The Rainbows are starting to come up out of the deep water and cruise around the weed beds. Early morning and late evening are still the best times to fish. The water is still warm and the middle of the day is still quite slow. The fishing should continue to get better over the next month and Davis should fish well for the next three months. Blood Midges fished under an indicator in 8-14 feet of water is always a good bet. Look for some Callabaetis and even some smaller Damsels out and about as well.

Little Truckee River

The Little Truckee is still flowing at a mere 16 CFS due to ongoing restoration projects. There is some really good long term projects going on right now and we really should leave the fishing alone until the water comes back up to at least 30 CFS.

Truckee River

What water that is in the River is starting to cool off. The only stretch of the river that is even close to fishable for Trout is the Canyon section on the California side of the river. That stretch between Boca Bridge and the Nevada state line is still running very low around 100 CFS. We will probably see low flows until we get some rain and or snow this coming fall/winter.

East Walker River

20 CFS is the flow and the East Walker is really low. It is fishable however as we have had some cooler overnight lows in the Bridgeport area. The river is in full on winter time mode right now with flows in the 20-30 CFS range. Continue to fish in the early mornings and evenings for a while until we see cooler weather. It probably is not worth the drive just yet.

Hobart Reservoir

Hobart is fishing great. The cooler weather has the bugs going wild. Fish can be seen rising hard in the mornings and evenings, especially during non-windy periods. Callabaetis, Midges, Ants and Beetles are all great flies to try right now. You can spend all day fishing the surface, hang flies under an indicator or slow strip small Wooly Buggers with an intermediate line. Hobart has been stocked heavily this year by NDOW as one of the few local fisheries with decent water conditions.

Pyramid Lake

30 Days to go. We are starting to see some cooler overnight air temperatures in the area and the surface water temperatures will start to cool very soon. We have a full fall fishing forecast on our website to try to help anglers prepare for a fall trip to the lake.

August 25th

Davis Lake

Davis like many lakes is looking forward to the fall. The lake is less than 50% full right now and is very warm and weedy. By next week the cooling air temps. will start to cool the water and we will be on our way to a very fishable fall. It may take a while for the weeds to fall back but you will be able to fish around them in 6-20 feet of water anyway, it just makes it a little harder getting around. If you make a trip to Davis in the early fall try midges in size 12-16 under an indicator in deeper water or smaller Damsel nymphs in size 14 with some type of sinking line depending on how deep you are fishing or intending to fish. Hover, Intermediate and Type II are all good choices. The fishing should start to get better slowly over the next few weeks.

Little Truckee River

Flows on the Little Truckee have been cut back to 16 CFS for ongoing restoration projects on the river. The river needs a rest right now until they raise the flows back above 30 CFS at least. There should be some decent fishing on the L.T. this fall after the flows come back up.

East Walker River

At 27 CFS the East Walker is in a bit of a struggle. The river can handle those kind of flows but not in the heat of summer. It is going to be a few weeks before the Water temps. on the river are really fishable and more importantly not harm the fish. Wait a couple more weeks and see what happens to the flows before a trip to the E.W.

Pyramid Lake

We are 5 weeks away from the opener. Hopefully Pyramid will come to the rescue this fall and give anglers a much needed local place to fish. This is a great time to tie some flies or get your gear ready to fish the lake. Water temperatures on the surface are still in the low 70’s but they should start to cool soon. Usually fish are still in a little deeper water in early October and this year should be no different. The tribe has implemented some new regulations for visitors to the reservation and some of them affect fishermen for sure. To see the new regulations go to: http://pyramidlakeflyfishing.com/2015/08/21/new-regulations-for-pyramid-lake/

Hobart Reservoir

Hobart has been kind of a local saving grace along with Martis Lake. Hobart has been fishing pretty good all summer in the mornings and evenings. Attractor Dries and small nymphs under an indicator are a great way to fish at Hobart. Float Tubes are helpful but there is also some shore fishing as well.

August 11th

The fly fishing in the Reno Tahoe area has been really limited by the heat of the summer and more importantly the low water conditions. There are very few places to fish with success right now and that pattern could be true for the next month or so. There are only a couple of places that we normally report on that are fishing right now.

Little Truckee River

The water is running at 94 CFS for about two weeks with the occasional shut down for projects. 94 CFS is really good for our situation with water in the area right now. There is not much going on near the surface with hatches right now but the Nymphing has been pretty good with light tippet and small flies. As always this time of year the fish have seen it and done that. It will take a good drift and the right bug to fool one of these fish right now. Still the most popular spot in the area now and rewarding as well.

Truckee River

We feel the water is too low on the river at this time to call fishing a sport. The fish are in survival mode and we are rooting for them. Please give the river a break and hope for a big winter.

East Walker River

42 CFS is really low for summer on the East Walker. The water is warm and the only fishing is really early in the morning and even then not such a good idea for another few weeks until the water cools some

Davis Lake

The boat ramp is accessible but be careful for sure. The water is still too warm to fish but the fall season should be good at Davis for float tubers and pontoon boat fly fishing. The fish will come out of the summer doldrums and provide for some fun days on the water in September – November

Pyramid Lake

Closed until October 1st. Look for an early season forecast in our Newsletter coming soon!

Hobart Reservoir

The fishing at Hobart has been terrific this year. It has provided anglers a place to go and have some success. NDOW has stocked the lake several times and kept the anglers into fish for the last three months. Surface fishing with Loco Ants, Pine Beetles or some type of smaller attractor dry can be a lot of fun and Nymphing or stripping small woolybuggers is also working well.

June 23rd

Pyramid Lake

One week to go in the season. The fishing season officially closes on June 30th to trout fishing. The water is still in pretty good shape for late June but it is getting really warm already on the surface. The best fly fishing has been from float tubes and pontoon boats in a little deeper water. Shore fishing is still just o.k. in areas where you can get your flies into 15-20 feet of water from the shore. Block House, Sand Hole, Indian Head and Monument are all worth trying. Stripping Tui Chub imitations with a really fast sinking line has been a great way to go. Hanging a Pyramid Lake Balanced Leach on a deep water indicator leader is also working.

The lake has been pretty much taken over by the summer crowd and the fisherman are few and far between. You can pretty much fish anywhere right now and have the place to yourself. It won’t be long until opening day in the fall and we can all get me another 6 month dose of Pyramid Lake and maybe a trout of a lifetime!

Truckee River

Flows over the past few days on the lower river have gone up a bit but they are still really low or pretty much UN fishable. There is no water coming out of Lake Tahoe and the flows around the town of Truckee are almost nonexistent. The fish are going to have a tough time surviving the rest of the summer and into fall without any fishing pressure, much less with being harassed in low flows and warm water. Take a break from fishing the Truckee for now and probably the rest of the season. Flows are: Town of Truckee 5 CFS, Boca Bridge 83 CFS, Farad 114 CFS, Reno 75 CFS.

Little Truckee River

Flows are down to 29 CFS and have been so for about a week. It was only a matter of time until the flows dropped and we are now in for a long summer on the Little Truckee. 29 CFS is more normal for the late fall and into winter but we normally see much higher flows in summer. There are some PMD’s hatching late morning and some midges as well. The pressure is going to be tremendous on the fish for the next few months and expect low flows, spooky fish and crowds.

Davis Lake

Davis has been fishing pretty well. It has been very technical and the fish have seen a lot of pressure. The Damsel fly hatch has been outstanding from 9:00 am until around lunch time. The Hex hatch has been coming off on the East side of the lake on most evenings as long as the wind is not blowing too hard. Hot weather is on the way so if you want to go to Davis go very soon. Small 1 inch Damsels fished on a long 12-14 foot 4X leader is the way to go in the mornings. Hanging small nymphs like Blood Midges under an indicator in 5-8 feet of water is also working. Hex dries fished from about 8:45pm until pitch dark is also worth doing. Make sure to stay until dark.

East Walker River

Flows are 106 CFS. That is not too bad right now. Hot weather is on the way so get down there early and quit around early lunch time when the water reaches 70 degrees. Big ugly dry flies fished either with or without a dropper has been raising a fish or two. Look for seams and deeper pools and be very stealthy approaching the water. For droppers try very small nymphs in sizes 16-20. Pheasant Tails, Caddis and Midges are a good way to go.

June 9th

Pyramid Lake

The season is really winding down at Pyramid. The official closing date is June 30th. The surface water temperatures are getting really warm and most of the fish have left the many beaches around the lake for deeper water. There have been some great fishing days still at the lake but it has been very streaky. Trout don’t care much for water temperatures approaching 70 degrees and will start to go deeper to find cooler water with more oxygen. They will however make a few appearances in shallow warmer water in search of food like cruising Tui Chubs. There are plenty of Midges and Callabaetis hatching as well and the abundance of food is keeping some fish around. Moss and grass is starting to grow again and it is making shooting head fishing a little aggravating. Getting out in the water and fishing deep water wooly buggers with a hover line has been working well. This will allow your flies to jig up and down a little and stay out of the grass a little more. Nymphing with Maholo Nymphs and Pyramid Lake Balanced Leaches has also been effective.

Truckee River

The flows on the Truckee have really been cut back over the past week. The river is starting to show signs of how bad the water situation is in the area. Warmer summer weather has crept into the area over the past few days and it looks like they are here to stay. The conditions on the Truckee River are such that it is probably time to leave it alone and see if the fish have any chance at all in surviving the summer. As the water gets lower and warmer it will eventually get to the point where the fish can’t survive the conditions. It may be coming sooner than later. Especially in the lower elevations around Reno. Flows are: Town of Truckee 25 CFS, Boca Bridge 100 CFS, Farad 125 CFS, Reno 39 CFS and Vista 78 CFS.

Little Truckee River

Flows on the Little Truckee are down to 62 CFS. They are starting to creep down as well. 62 CFS is actually not too bad for right now. The PMD hatch has been going on for a while now and fish are sipping dries on the surface during the hatch, especially on cloudy days as we have been having lately. With the Truckee in such bad shape the Little Truckee is getting a heavy dose of anglers. The fish are spooky, smart and have seen most of the normal tricks. The Little Truckee is normally a very technical fishery and right now is no exception. Light tippet, great drag free drifts and rest are all very important to fooling one of the many Rainbows and Browns in the Little Truckee. Look for flows to really drop over the next month or so.

East Walker River

Flows on the East Walker are up to 88 CFS. There is still some irrigation water held back in Bridgeport reservoir and it is keeping the flows up some but they are fluctuating a lot. The situation has to change in the coming weeks as the water in Bridgeport Reservoir dries up. There have been some really nice fish caught on big dries which is pretty common for this time of year on the East Walker. Fish it like you normally would right now including starting early and quitting around lunch time. The water is really warm already in the river and is only going to get worse. Keep an eye on the flows before making the commitment to drive to the E.W.

Davis Lake

Davis is pretty much in its normal shape for this time of year. Damsels are migrating. Blood Midges are hatching and there are some Hexagenia Mayflies showing up just before dark. The lake is really low and the only boat ramp that is usable at the lake is the one at Honker cove due to low water. The weed beds are really getting started and the next couple of weeks should be really good at Davis. The water is already warm and the best time to fish the lake is in the mornings and just before dark.

May 26th

Pyramid Lake

Cooler stormy weather over the past 10 days or so has really helped the fishing. The water temperatures have stabilized around 60 degrees on the surface and it has helped keep some fish in shallow water. Tui Chubs are starting to roam and cruise in close as well. The hatchery area has been slow but some of the normal early fall and late spring beaches have been producing. The numbers of Pilot Peak strain fish also tend to go up some this time of year. Fishing off ladders as well as Pontoon Boats and Float Tubes are all worth a try. There are plenty of fish in 8-20 feet of water but that could change as soon as we get some warmer weather. Windy days are still best for sure. Early mornings have been worth getting up for lately as well. For Stripping flies use Midnight Cowboy’s and Olive Martini’s. For Indicator rigs the Red Maholo Nymph has been awesome. Larger Midges and Pyramid Lake Balanced Leeches are also worth a try.

Truckee River

The water is still really low for the most part on the river. This last batch of rainy days did not do much to change the water except for make it a little off color in places. It is fishable for sure. The stretch between Tahoe City and Truckee is really low and gets a little better downstream of Truckee. There is 158 CFS coming in from Boca and the flows are outstanding in the canyon section down to the state line. The flows get a little lower due to diversions in Nevada but the river is still in great shape all the way through Reno. Caddis are starting to hatch on the lower river in the evenings as well as some Little Yellow Stones. Nymphing during the day with Caddis or some generic bead head nymphs in size 16-18 is a great bet. A stonefly for a lead fly in size 8-10 can’t hurt either. The evening dry fly fishing should only get better for the next few weeks. Flows are: Town of Truckee 60 CFS, Boca Bridge 308 CFS, Farad 322 CFS and Reno 193 CFS.

Little Truckee River

Flows remain at 90 CFS. They have been this way for a while now. PMD’s are starting to show up sporadically in the middle of the day. The PMD hatch should only get better in the coming weeks. There are still some lingering Baetis as well. Nymphing with some really small PMD’s, Baetis or Midges in sizes 18-22 has been working best. 5X or 6X tippet is a must. Be stealthy, wear some neutral clothing and make really good drifts.

Davis Lake

Davis is low for sure but is in great shape for late May. There are some Callabaetis, Blood Midges and even a Damsel or two starting to show up. The latest report from May 26th has a few fish rising in shallow water and starting to stage for the Damsel migration. June should be a good month at the lake. There is a ton of shoreline due to lower water and this could be a really good year for shallow water sight fishing. Bring all your standard Stillwater flies and be ready for anything.

East Walker River

The East Walker is still 22 CFS. This is probably in part to some rain and cooler weather. The flows are going to continue to change with the weather over the next month or so until irrigation water is used up and the river goes into drought mode sometime soon. Get it in now if you want to fish the EW. We could be in for a long hot summer.

May 19th

Pyramid Lake

The water Temperature 58-60 degrees. Spawning channel has been closed and the water turned off for a few weeks. The fishing remains pretty good at the lake, especially on windy days. The fish are all but done with the spawn for the season and now show up in the shallows to feed instead of mate. There are some really good Midge and Callabaetis hatches going on from early morning to midafternoon. This is evident from the numerous swallows feeding just above the water in numerous areas around the lake and the amount of midges hovering around vehicles parked on the beaches. The water is still in really fishable shape at around 60 degrees although a lot of the fish are starting to head out to deeper water for the summer. Tui Chub minnows should start to come up into some fishable water soon and with them we should see some Pilot Peak Cutthroats. The next month or so could be really worth doing at the lake with the idea of catching less fish and maybe a better shot at a big one. Get the wind in your face, fish on cloudy windy days and be prepared to move to find fish.

For the Midge and Callabaetis hatch try using Red, Black or Wine colored Maholo Nymphs with a Maholo Midge dropper. Copper Tops are a good choice.

To imitate minnows try Pyramid Lake Balance Leeches in Olive Martini and White Ghost under a big indicator or White Ghost Wooly’s and Midnight Cowboys fished with a shooting head on the bottom.

Davis Lake

Cloudy, cold and unsettled weather haunted my guests and me last week, while dropping the water temps back down to 50 to 52 degrees. Fish are starting to rise, especially in the deeper water around the island. I have only seen a few surface next to shore which is a bit disappointing. Blood midges are out and they are big, a #10 pupa pattern is about right. Callabaetis mayflies are becoming more prevalent as well. The cold weather does not help with the Damsel hatch though, a few have been sighted swimming in the upper water column but in no way is it “game on” yet. Brown damsel patterns are very important during the early part of the hatch. Weeds are slowly starting to grow but we are a long way off from having those fertile underwater forests that grow to the surface. As far as fish behavior is concerned they are still scattered and not roaming in pods, one theory of mine is the rainbows are bigger these days, and tend to be loners while cruising for food. Stripping is starting to produce and keeping your fly about 3 to 4 feet down is best. Brown and olive wiggle tails, leeches, damsels, and Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ears have proved effective. Bobbicating is receiving the better numbers and hanging your bugs 3 to 8 feet down in 8 to 14 feet of water is sure to catch a few. Pheasant Tail flashbacks, Albino Winos, and balanced damsels are best. Overall fishing is fair. Warmer air and water temps will dictate favorable conditions.

Truckee River

The Truckee continues to be really low in most places. Recent stormy weather has helped some and there should be a little run off from the recent storms but not nearly enough to keep the Truckee from disaster this summer. Although low the river is very fishable right now. The water temperatures are good and there have been some bugs out and about as well. The best flows are East of Reno and the Canyon Section in California. Stoneflies, Caddis and some Baetis are some of the bugs hatching right now and fly boxes should have these nymphs in them for sure. The best dry fly fishing is East of Reno and continues to be Baetis. Stonefly dries are also worth a try on some of the pocket water and larger pools as well. If you like to fish the Truckee now is the time. Conditions could get worse fast as the spring rolls into summer. Flows are: Town of Truckee 40 CFS, Boca Bridge 206 CFS, Farad 246 CFS, Reno 88 CFS and Vista 202 CFS.

Little Truckee River

Flows on the Little Truckee continue to be really good at 88 CFS. They have been in that range for over a week now. The fishing is a little tough but there are plenty of fish spread out from Boca to Stampede. There are still some Baetis and some Midges hatching and there is some dry fly fishing, especially during this cloudy unsettled weather period. Lots of fisherman on most days are taking to the L.T. and don’t expect that to change anytime soon. Take your small nymph box with you and some 5X tippet. Take your time approaching the water and pay attention to what is going on. The L.T. is a technical fishery where 10 good casts will catch more fish than 100 good ones. Pick your spots and give the fish plenty of breaks. Look for the flows to slowly drop in the coming weeks with the drought situation.

East Walker River

The East Walker has dropped to 22 CFS over the past 5 days. This is probably in part to some rain and cooler weather. The flows are going to continue to change with the weather over the next month or so until irrigation water is used up and the river goes into drought mode sometime soon. Get it in now if you want to fish the EW. We could be in for a long hot summer.

May 5th

Pyramid Lake

May brings the end of the spawn and warmer water conditions to Pyramid. Even though there is some really good fishing days still out there at the lake, you have to shift gears and really look at how the weather is changing the lake on a daily basis. Summit Lake strain Cutthroats are still around but the urge to spawn is waning and the need to be in cooler water is evident. There are not as many fish cruising the ledges in shallow water and calm weather days have become even tougher than usual. The water is reaching 60 degrees or better in the shallows in the afternoons and there even has been an algae bloom going on. This has all but shut off the bite after lunch.

Anglers are still catching fish on windy days but there have not been too many of those out there lately with the high pressure and warm weather we have had. There is a storm approaching in the next couple of days and there should be an opportunity or two to get out there and get the wind in your face. Callabaetis mayflies are starting to hatch as well as midges. There should be some Tui Chubs showing up feeding on these bugs and with them usually come the new Pilot Peak strain of Cutty’s. These fish seem to have a little more tolerance for warm water and lengthen our fishing season in the spring over the past couple of years. It may be necessary to get into a little deeper water and leave the hatchery area alone. There are still some great fishing days at Pyramid you just have to choose them accordingly. As the spring goes on look use more Pyramid Lake Balanced Leeches and Minnows, White Ghost Tadpoles, White Woolybuggers and any bait fish pattern with a shooting head. Nymphing with Maholo Nymphs and Midges will still work well as imitations for the Callabaetis and Midges.

Truckee River

The Truckee is fishing pretty well on the California side between Boca Bridge and the Nevada state line. There is some water being released from Prosser, Boca and Donner Lake that has kept the river in this part of the river in good shape. There has even been some dry fly fishing going on. The mornings have been best for sure but the stormy weather and clouds in the area have some bugs hatching and fish looking up. Bring your Nymphing rod and some Stoneflies in size 8-10 and some Caddis in size 14-16. Be ready with an Elk Hair Caddis or a Stone Fly dry especially if the sun is off the water.

The Upper stretches between Tahoe City and Truckee as well as the Nevada side of the river are really low right now and fishing tough. It could be a long time until we get some much needed water for these stretches to be somewhat fishable. Flows are: Town of Truckee 75 CFS, Boca Bridge 325 CFS, Farad 405 CFS, Reno 174 CFS.

Little Truckee River

The flows on the Little Truckee are 88 CFS. Great flows for sure. They have been that way for over a week now. Fish are settled into these flows for sure. Cloudy stormy weather in the area has sparked the dry fly fishing and there has been some really good days on the L.T. Flows could change any time so keep an eye on them before you go. Baetis and Midges are still the top bugs on the L.T. If you are Nymphing or Dry Fly Fishing make as few casts as possible and get good drifts. Observe an area before just plunging in and you will be amazed at what is going on.

East Walker River

Flows are up to 108 CFS. Great news for the fish for now. The flows have fluctuated from 20 CFS to 200 CFS and back to 100 CFS over the past two days and the water is probably really off colored. It is a good idea to see if it settles out at a particular flow for a day or so before heading out. Stone Fly dries fished in larger pools is a fun way to go. Nymphing with a small Stonefly and a smaller dropper like a Caddis is also worth a try.

Davis Lake

Current conditions are quite strange, in some aspects conditions are way ahead and other factors about the same for this time of year. Water temps are ranging from 53-55 degrees, there is going to be some colder overnight temperatures next week which will help keep the temps stable. Water is a tad off color but not too bad. Water levels are at 56%, not scary low by any means and it only creates more habitat for the trout stalker fishing off the bank. Boat ramps; Lightning Tree is way above the water line, Camp 5 is ok only for very small boats, and Honker cover is in good shape for now.

Fish behavior is about normal for this time of year with a few exceptions. Right now fish are scattered throughout the lake, and they are roaming around looking for a good neighborhood to live in for the next few months. Most of the rainbows are in the upper water column, and a few are down on the bottom as well. I did see some rising fish in certain coves for a few hours, and then they were gone. Where to is a mystery. I even saw a few fish still in the coves of the east side in full spawn mode. Rainbows are ranging in size of 17 to 22”.

Blood midges are out in two different sizes, 10, and 14. There is also a small gray midge hatching in a size 18. Blow in feed of Carpenter ants and the black and red burying beetles were on the surface with a few fish eating them. Fish will be keying in on these terrestrials in the next few weeks so make sure you have some Loco ants in your box. I saw my first damsel swimming towards shore, and a few early Callabaetis mayflies. Vertical presentations under the bobber have been best using Albino Wino midge pupa #10-14, and Pheasant Tail flashbacks #14-16. Mornings to noon time have been best.

April 21st

Pyramid Lake

There has been a high pressure system over the area that started to move in last Wednesday. This has kept the winds down and made fishing pretty tough for most anglers. Glass conditions have been the standard over most of the lake. There are still plenty of fish cruising around the hatchery and all up and down the west side of the lake. Calm conditions have given most of the fish in spawn mode lock jaw for the past week. Some unsettled weather has moved into the area and should remain for the next few days. There is a slight chance of thunderstorms which can get the wind going for a while in the afternoon and evenings. This could give us some much needed chop on the water and even some cloud cover for the remainder of the week. The first and last light bite has been pretty UN reliable for the past few days as well. This time of year you have to just be at the lake on days when the wind is blowing. Look for areas with wind in your face and put in some time. The fishing is going to be streaky and it is important to be ready when it is happening.

The indicator bite has been the most consistent lately for sure. You can catch fish with shooting head rigs but it has been a tougher bite. White Ghost tadpoles, Olive Martini and Midnight Cowboy Wooly Worms have been the way to go. For Nymphing rigs use a Red Maholo Nymph on top and an Albino Wino or a Copper Top in size 12 for the dropper right off the bottom.

Truckee River

The drought has set in on the Truckee River. The water master cut the flows from Boca Reservoir from 400 CFS to 100 CFS last week the day after our report. This took 300 CFS out of the river. We have been forecasting this situation for a while now and it happened much sooner than we expected. Look for water conditions to remain low for the immediate future. This could be a long term bad deal for the Truckee River. The flows are still high enough from Boca Bridge downstream to the state line but they are really low around Truckee and in Nevada. Nymphing in the canyon section of the river with smaller flies in deeper pools is a good way to go. If you want to fish the Truckee do it soon as it looks like it is only going to get worse.

East Walker River

Flows at 20cfs, very low. Easy to spook the bigger fish, so stealth is important. If you are going to fish the EW do it now and leave it alone once the weather warms up. Fish are scattered and seems the numbers are down. Dry fly- fish still looking up for the Skwalas, so olive bodied Stimulators size 6 or 8 or your favorite Skwala pattern still drawing interest and some spectacular grabs on the surface. Target the deeper runs and anywhere there are overhanging bushes. Still seeing some BWO activity. Parachute Adams size 14-18 get the occasional fish. Dry-dropper rigs are effective at these flows. Try dropping a Mercer’s Micro May size 18 in olive or brown and Juju Baetis under the dry flies, or smaller Zebra Midges in black or red. Nymphing- pretty slow, especially at these low flows. Use stonefly nymphs size 8-14. Mercer’s Micro Mayflies and Juju Baetis are good options. Bedhead Pheasant Tails size 14-20 are still effective. Smaller bedhead caddis in olive and dark brown will get you some grabs. Flashback Hare’s Ear nymph’s size 12-20 are also good options. Dry-dropper rigs seem to be the best option on the EW at this time.

Little Truckee River

The L.T. is starting to slowly drop and is now down to 92 CFS which is still really good. Fish are pretty active eating some available Baetis and Midges. There has been some anglers on the river lately and the fish are already feeling the pressure. A stealthy approach is a great idea. The Little Truckee is not the type of river to pound away with an indicator rig. It is a small stream and requires a soft hand. Take your time, get good drifts and don’t over fish the water. Try to observe more and cast less. 10 good casts will catch more fish on the L.T. than 100 any time. Baetis Nymphs in size 18-20 fished on 5X tippet is a good way to go. Midges in sizes 18-22 and San Juan worms are also worth having along. Look for flows to continue to slowly drop down to somewhere in the 20-30 CFS range in the next month or so.

April 6th

Pyramid Lake

The lake continues to roll with the weather. April is here and so is the peak of the spawn. There are plenty of Summit Lake strain Cutty’s swimming the shallows in search of some type of moving water to complete the cycle. At this point fish are in really close and even in less than a foot of water in some areas. This time of year offers some real good opportunities to cast to shallow cruising fish even if most attempts are to fish with lock jaw. Most beaches have fish around them right now so if you do not like the crowds there are plenty of areas to try your luck.

There has been a little bit of a morning bite before the sun comes up but it is not guaranteed and it is an early rise to get to the lake for 45 minutes of action. After the sun comes up there seems to be somewhat of a lull in the action. Late morning to late afternoon has been the most consistent but the wind is everything right now. The fish are there but they do not always take flies and very seldom will they on clear calm days. The weather forecasts can only be a gauge for what might happen out there. The wind forecast has been wrong plenty lately.

You can catch fish both stripping and Nymphing any part of the day right now. Be ready for both and have a couple of rods rigged up. Albino Wino’s and Maholo Nymphs are a must in your box for indicator fishing right now. For stripping it is hard to beat foam beetles and tadpoles in Northern Lights and White Ghost colors. Olive Martini’s and Midnight Cowboys are great for Wooly’s.

Truckee River

It is now April and on a normal year the Truckee would be going through some type of run-off. We would be talking about the Yo-Yo effect on the river and fishing the edges and banks out of the main current. We would be talking about cold fronts and forecasting the best fishing flows during this time as well. The average flows would be somewhere in the 700 CFs to 1500 CFs range. Well it is the third year of a severe drought and the flows in Reno for March 31st are 134 CFS. On April 1st they were 375 due to some irrigation water being released out of Boca. There is no run-off to speak of and Lake Tahoe is at least 6 inches below the natural rim and has no shot of contributing to the situation this year. Unless something amazing happens very soon the Truckee River will all but dry up by sometime in June this year. There may be some areas that continue to flow but there will also be areas that are dry for the summer. Long term bummer for the river and the fishery.

The river is fishing pretty well as of the end of March. There is a great Baetis hatch East of Reno and there are areas that have some really nice active rising fish. Cloudy non windy days are the best for sure. There have already been a few Caddis flying around which is really early. The California side of the river below Boca Bridge has a good flow right now and is in great short term shape. Smaller nymphs have been working here as well. The river above the Town of Truckee is already really low. Flows are Town of Truckee 45 CFS, Boca Bridge 499 CFS, Farad 557 CFS, Reno 375 CFS and Vista 411 CFS.

East Walker River

Flows are 21 CFS. The fishing has been really tough on the East Walker as of late. Fish have been trapped in the deeper pools for a few months now. They should get some relief in the next couple of weeks when irrigation season starts but there will not be much water added to the river for farming this year. You can get a fish or two to look up at a big dry fly right now if you take your time and use some stealth approaching the water. Fish are spooking quickly these days mainly due to the longevity of the low flows. Look for the flows to spike a little in the coming weeks and get your East Walker fix in before it gets hot and the water gets too warm to fish.

Little Truckee

Flows have dropped to 110 CFS after being at 151 CFS for a while. Access in not a problem and there is no snow on the road all the way to Stampede Reservoir. 110 CFS are great flows for the Little Truckee any time of year. At these flows fish are really spread out and can be found just about anywhere. Side channels, eddies and seams are a really good area to look for fish as well as in deeper pools in slower water. There has been some Baetis and Midges hatching on non-windy days, especially if there are some clouds. The Little Truckee is the main source of water feeding the Truckee River right now but this could change anytime. It is going to be a trade and barter system this summer to try to keep water in the Truckee between Stampede, Prosser and Donner Lakes.

March 31st

Pyramid Lake

The lake continues to roll with the weather. April is here and so is the peak of the spawn. There are plenty of Summit Lake strain Cutty’s swimming the shallows in search of some type of moving water to complete the cycle. At this point fish are in really close and even in less than a foot of water in some areas. This time of year offers some real good opportunities to cast to shallow cruising fish even if most attempts are to fish with lock jaw. Most beaches have fish around them right now so if you do not like the crowds there are plenty of areas to try your luck.

There has been a little bit of a morning bite before the sun comes up but it is not guaranteed and it is an early rise to get to the lake for 45 minutes of action. After the sun comes up there seems to be somewhat of a lull in the action. Late morning to late afternoon has been the most consistent but the wind is everything right now. The fish are there but they do not always take flies and very seldom will they on clear calm days. The weather forecasts can only be a gauge for what might happen out there. The wind forecast has been wrong plenty lately.

You can catch fish both stripping and Nymphing any part of the day right now. Be ready for both and have a couple of rods rigged up. Albino Wino’s and Maholo Nymphs are a must in your box for indicator fishing right now. For stripping it is hard to beat foam beetles and tadpoles in Northern Lights and White Ghost colors. Olive Martini’s and Midnight Cowboys are great for Wooly’s.

Truckee River

It is now April and on a normal year the Truckee would be going through some type of run-off. We would be talking about the Yo-Yo effect on the river and fishing the edges and banks out of the main current. We would be talking about cold fronts and forecasting the best fishing flows during this time as well. The average flows would be somewhere in the 700 CFs to 1500 CFs range. Well it is the third year of a severe drought and the flows in Reno for March 31st are 134 CFS. There is no run-off to speak of and Lake Tahoe is at least 6 inches below the natural rim and has no shot of contributing to the situation this year. Unless something amazing happens very soon the Truckee River will all but dry up by sometime in June this year. There may be some areas that continue to flow but there will also be areas that are dry for the summer. Long term bummer for the river and the fishery.

The river is fishing pretty well as of the end of March. There is a great Baetis hatch East of Reno and there are areas that have some really nice active rising fish. Cloudy non windy days are the best for sure. There have already been a few Caddis flying around which is really early. The California side of the river below Boca Bridge has a good flow right now and is in great short term shape. Smaller nymphs have been working here as well. The river above the Town of Truckee is already really low. Flows are Town of Truckee 70 CFS, Boca Bridge 253 CFS, Farad 318 CFS, Reno 134 CFS and Vista 187 CFS.

East Walker River

Flows are 21 CFS. The fishing has been really tough on the East Walker as of late. Fish have been trapped in the deeper pools for a few months now. They should get some relief in the next couple of weeks when irrigation season starts but there will not be much water added to the river for farming this year. You can get a fish or two to look up at a big dry fly right now if you take your time and use some stealth approaching the water. Fish are spooking quickly these days mainly due to the longevity of the low flows. Look for the flows to spike a little in the coming weeks and get your East Walker fix in before it gets hot and the water gets too warm to fish.

Little Truckee

Flows have been at 151 CFS for a while now. Access in not a problem and there is no snow on the road all the way to Stampede Reservoir. 151 CFS are great flows for the Little Truckee any time of year. At these flows fish are really spread out and can be found just about anywhere. Side channels, eddies and seams are a really good area to look for fish as well as in deeper pools in slower water. There has been some Baetis and Midges hatching on non-windy days, especially if there are some clouds. The Little Truckee is the main source of water feeding the Truckee River right now but this could change anytime. It is going to be a trade and barter system this summer to try to keep water in the Truckee between Stampede, Prosser and Donner Lakes.

March 9th

Pyramid Lake

The fishing at Pyramid was all over the map last week. The storm that rolled through brought with it snow, sleet and rain along with wind and some great fishing. As the week went on the fishing slowed considerably. By this past weekend, bright sunny days, no wind and a full moon all played a part in really tough fishing. Weather plays a huge part in fishing at Pyramid Lake and this past week proved it once again even in the peak of the season. The water temperatures in the lake are in the high 40’s with some warmer temps. in some of the shallow areas, especially in the afternoons. More and more fish are starting to show up along most of the beaches around the lake to complete their yearly spawn. Most of the females are still really “green” or not ready to spawn yet although it is evident that they are carrying eggs. The males are getting their dark red color associated with this time of year. There are a lot more summit lake strain fish being caught right now which has been normal for March and April for the past few years since the introduction of the Pilot Peak strain.

The coming weeks should be really good at the lake as more and more fish cruise into the shallows and the water continues to warm up. Weather will continue to play a role in the fishing and the days when there is some wind on the water should continue to be the best. On blue bird days fishing early or late when the sun is off the water can help some. With the water still in the 40’s the afternoons are probably your best bet. For shooting head set ups White Ghost Beetles and Tadpoles are the way to go. White Wooly Worms are also doing well. Nymph rigs should be fished close to the bottom without dragging. Albino Wino’s are tough to beat as a bottom fly and Black Maholo Nymphs for the top one.

Truckee River

The flows on the Truckee are creeping down some as the melt from the last couple of storms mellows out. There is still plenty of water from Boca Bridge down through Reno and the river is in great shape. It is clearing some as well. This is a great time to be on the Truckee, especially on the Nevada side where the water is a little warmer. NDOW has also already started to stock the river near most of the parks in Reno. The warmer weather we are expecting in the next few days should really help also. There has been a Baetis hatch on the lower river and fish are chowing on Baetis nymphs and dries. Late morning to midafternoon has been the best time to be on the water as of late. Nymphing is probably your best bet and as the water comes down it will for sure be the way to go. Make sure you have some size 18 Baetis dries along in case you run into a rising fish. We still need lots of water and the river could be in for a long summer if we don’t get some water so fish the river now and cross your fingers. Flows are Town of Truckee 44 CFS, Boca Bridge 295 CFS, Farad 325 CFS, Reno 263 CFS and Vista 307 CFS.

Little Truckee River

Flows have been flat lining at 157 CFS for a while now. Access in not a problem and there is no snow on the road all the way to Stampede Reservoir. 157 CFS are great flows for the Little Truckee any time of year. At these flows fish are really spread out and can be found just about anywhere. Side channels, eddies and seams are a really good area to look for fish as well as in deeper pools in slower water. There is not much of a hatch but there are some Baetis around on cloudy days as well as Midges. Nymphing with these patterns are the way to go with 5X tippet. Keep an eye out midday for some bugs hatching and have some dries ready to go.

East Walker River

Flows are still very low at 22 CFS. The warmer weather in the Bridgeport area has helped melt most of the ice around the banks of the East Walker and it is fishable but really low. Fish are hanging out in the deeper pools and runs. There has been some Baetis and Midges flying around in the afternoons, especially on cloudy days. Nymphing with really small flies in size 18-20 is the way to go. Make sure you are getting good dead drifts in some of the slower deeper water. No need to get there too early so let the sun come out and warm things up a bit and fish in the afternoons.

February 24th

Pyramid Lake

We are one week away from March! The spring season is just around the corner. The fishing has been all over the map over the past week. A small storm moved through and brought some wind to the lake on Sunday. There were some pretty good reports from numerous beaches around the lake. The Summit Lake strain Cutthroat’s are starting to show up in smaller schools in shallow water. There have been plenty of big fish caught as well.

Even though we are approaching what lots of anglers would say is the peak of the season, weather still plays a big part in the fishing. Calm sunny days can be tough any time of year. If you get some wind it is normally better even in March and April. Nymphing is starting to pick up around the lake and stripping Wooly’s, Beetles and Tadpoles are also working well. White Ghost Loco Tadpoles or any bright fly is a good choice and for two fly rigs also tie on a Midnight Cowboy or a Bloody Mary. Maholo Nymphs in Red or Wine are hard to beat for Nymphing but Balanced Leeches and Maholo Midges are also worth some time. Fish can be caught any time of day but early and late continue to give you a little better chance.

Truckee River

Flows on the Truckee remain in excellent shape. The water is a little off color still but it is totally fishable. The water is really low from Tahoe City through the Town of Truckee but once you get downstream of the Boca Bridge it is fine and the fishing has been really good. With the off colored water Nymphing and streamer fishing has been working well. You can get pretty close to the fish and really make some good drifts right now. High Sticking and Indicator Nymphing have both been working well. Afternoons have been the best when the water has had a chance to warm up some. A good fly combo to use is a larger fly like a Stonefly nymph with a smaller dropper in a size 16 or so. Bead Head nymphs like Pheasant Tails are a good bet. Flows are Town of Truckee 59 CFS, Boca Bridge 363 CFS, Farad 388 CFS, Reno 343 CFS and Vista 391 CFS.

Little Truckee River

Flows have been flat lining at 157 CFS for a while now. These are great flows for the Little Truckee any time of year. At these flows fish are really spread out and can be found just about anywhere. Side channels, eddies and seams are a really good area to look for fish as well as in deeper pools in slower water. There is not much of a hatch but there are some Baetis around on cloudy days as well as Midges. Nymphing with these patterns are the way to go with 5X tippet. Keep an eye out midday for some bugs hatching and have some dries ready to go.

East Walker River

The East Walker has been flowing around 20 CFS for a long time. The cold air in the Bridgeport area has started to be a factor again with ice. There is some warmer weather on its way and that might be a good time to give it a try. 20 CFS is really low and fish are in deeper slower runs right now. Hopefully we get some snow in the East Walker Drainage soon and better flows will come along with irrigation season.

February 9th

Pyramid Lake

The weekend started off with some really high winds that put out the wind gauges at the lake for a day or two. This was on the front end of a pretty good storm system that put down inches of rain in the area into Monday. This should really help the lake in the long run. The fishing has been about average for this time of year. The stormy weather helped the middle of the day bite for sure. It seems as though the mornings have been better than the evenings for the past few days. The long range forecast is for sunny weather coming back to the area through next weekend. This is going to probably make fishing going forward once again dependent on wind and time of day. Fish early and or late and try to plan your trip to the lake on days when there is going to be some wind on the water. There is about 13 hours of daylight right now and fishing first light and last light is getting harder to do. A better idea is to plan to be there either early or late. White Ghost Loco Tadpoles and Midnight Cowboy Wooly Worms are a good combo for shooting head set-ups right now. White Ghost or Olive Martini Balanced Leaches and Red or Wine Maholo Nymphs are the way to go for Indicator rigs. It seems as though the first signs of Summit Lake Cuttys are showing up in smaller schools. Most of these are smaller fish but they are starting to color up for the spawn a little.

Truckee River

Recent storms and rain have sent the river into pretty much flood stages as of Monday February 9th. Parts of the river are over 2000 CFS. We will take it! This will help the water situation for sure. It will also give the river a much needed flush and help move out some silt etc. It could be a few days before the river comes down to fishable levels again. Keep an eye on the flows before venturing out. Once the flows come back down the fishing should be pretty good. Warmer weather is expected and there was somewhat of a Baetis hatch east of town prior to the rain. We will keep an updated report as the flows start to come back down. Flows as of 2-9-15 are: Town of Truckee 403 CFS, Boca Bridge 982 CFS, Farad 1210 CFS, Reno 1540 CFS and Vista 2050 CFS.

East Walker River

Flows are 21 CFS. The East Walker is a tail water and can be UN effected by rain. Most of the water in the Bridgeport area was collected by many area reservoirs. This is good news for the long haul. In the short term the river is running very low. It has been a little warmer and most of the shore line ice is gone. The next week could be pretty good on the East Walker except for the low flows. Nymphing with smaller flies like Baetis, Midges and San Juan Worms are a good way to approach the fishing right now. Keep some small dries ready to go, especially on the California side of the river. No need to go too early. The middle of the day seems to be the best time to be on the water.

Little Truckee River

The snow line was above the road to the Little Truckee. Access is still not a problem. The flows are 173 CFS. These flows are great for this time or any time of year. The river fishes a little bigger at these flows and more weight is important when fishing sinking flies. Fish will also spread out more. This helps to spread out anglers as well. There has been a Baetis hatch on the right day but it is difficult to count on. Nymphing with Baetis and Midges is always worth a shot in the winter. Keep some Baetis dries ready just in case. If you’re looking to get out on some moving water in the area, the Little Truckee is a good bet right now.

Frenchman’s Reservoir

The ice is all but gone and the fishing has been really good. The lake is low but with colder water and it being the middle of winter there is not much weed growth and the entire lake is fishable. Midges have been hatching in the afternoons on most days. Fishing Albino Wino’s and Black Maholo Midges in size 12-14 has been working well. Especially fished under an indicator near deeper water. You really only have to go down about 4-8 feet right now as well. The fish are hot and fighting hard. Not to mention that there is nobody around on most days. Frenchman’s is a sleeper right now and should be on the to do list for sure.

January 6th

Pyramid Lake

Well along with bringing in the New Year we also got another dose of the full moon phase at Pyramid Lake. Nice weather also played a part in the fishing being quite tough over the past week or so. The water temperatures are in the area of 43-44 degrees which is right around the winter time low. Most of the fish are hanging out in a little deeper water where it is warmer. The Tui chubs also prefer warmer water and are helping to keep fish down deep right now. That does not mean that all is lost. Wind and weather can move fish into the shallows on a day to day basis. Most days are tough, especially calm, bluebird sunny days. The long term forecast is for dry sunny warmer days so getting to the lake early and or staying late is going to help some. That time when the sun is off the water has been the time to fish over the past week or so. Fish are spread out all over the lake and weather is more important to fishing success than a particular spot on the lake. Areas with deeper drop offs and that have close access to deeper water are good spots to try right now. See http://pyramidlakeflyfishing.com/fishing/beaches/ for more information on these types of areas. Fish are being caught on a variety of techniques right now including stripping Woolybuggers and Tadpoles with a fast sinking shooting head as well as hanging flies under an indicator. It can be a long time between grabs right now and it is hard to take that long of a look at a strike indicator. Hopefully we get some weather into the Truckee Meadows soon and helps the fishing.

Truckee River

The Truckee River continues to be in pretty good shape. It is still really low in the upper stretches but from Boca Bridge on the California side down through Reno the flows are great. Most of the water is coming through the Little Truckee system right now and that could change anytime. As the winter goes on and if we continue to struggle for water these conditions could change fast. The weather over the next week to ten days should be perfect for winter time fly fishing on the Truckee. The lower river East of Reno could even start to see a Baetis hatch in the middle of the day. Nymphing with smaller flies like a Baetis Nymph is a good way to go right now. Smaller Winter Stones are a good dropper. Smaller streamers can also attract fish in the afternoons when the water is at its warmest. No need to get out too early, the middle of the day is the time to be on the water. Keep an eye on the flows over the next few weeks. Flows are: Town of Truckee 19 CFS, Boca Bridge 235 CFS, Farad 258 CFS, Reno 198 CFS and Vista 257 CFS.

Little Truckee River

Flows are 148 CFS. These are outstanding flows for January. Fish are pretty spread out and willing to take a fly. There are no travel issues and the roads are clear right now. If you can plan a cloudy non windy day on the L.T. you might run into some dry fly fishing. Midges and Baetis are in the system and are usually prevalent in the winter. Nymphing with lighter tippet like 5X and 6X are a good way to start. The water is cold and fish are usually in slower deeper water this time of year. You may find some fish in some of the riffles during any kind of a hatch. At 150 CFS fish will spend more time in side channels and near the bank away from faster currents as well.

East Walker River

Flows are 20 CFS. Even though we have seen some warmer weather around Reno, it is still quite cold near Bridgeport. At 20 CFS the East Walker does not create enough current to keep the ice from forming around the edges, banks and slower water. This makes getting around the river and getting a good drift pretty tough. The afternoons are the time to be on the water when it is warmer. The river is fishable but be aware of winter time conditions. Nymphing with small flies in 18-22 has been the best lately. Midges, San Juan Worms and Baetis Nymphs tend to be the best. Take your time and approach the water with some stealth. Wear neutral clothing as well. Look for these low flows to continue for the remainder of the winter.

December 16th

Pyramid Lake

The lake has fished pretty good on some days and tough on others. The wind has blown mostly out of the South for a couple of weeks now. This is common for this time of year as small storm systems move through the area. On days when it turns more out of the East the fishing has been better. The days it blows more out of the West is has been slow. The water temperatures are creeping down and are now around 46 degrees. The type of fishing days we are having now can be expected for the next couple of months. Some big fish are being caught but it is a while between grabs. If you can go on stormy days you should do better. Avoid the days when the wind blows out of the West and don’t fish areas where the wind is at your back. On sunny days go early or stay late. These tips will increase your odds at Pyramid any time of year but especially when it is slower. Stripping flies on the bottom with fast sinking shooting heads has been the way to go lately for many reasons. We have been doing really well on White Ghost Loco Tadpoles as a dropper and Either a Midnight Cowboy or a Martini Olive Wooly Bugger behind. Most of the grass is gone now and clean retrieves are more and more common. There are still some fish being caught under the indicator but it is a long stare. Use bigger stuff like Balanced Leaches and Maholo Nymphs this time of year.

Truckee River

The Truckee continues to have good flows from Boca Bridge through Reno. About ½ of the water in the river is coming from the Little Truckee. The other half through smaller tributaries along the way. The river is totally fishable right now and there have been some fairly decent reports. The reports are getting better and better. The best days to fish the river in the winter are usually warmer sunny days. The middle of the day is the best time to be on the water when the sun has had a chance to warm it up a bit. There are fish being caught on nymphs and streamers right now. If the flows stay in the area they are now the fishing on the Truckee could be decent for a while. Keep an eye on the flows, especially after any kind of weather event. Flows are: Town of Truckee 35 CFS, Boca Bridge 345 CFS, Farad 372 CFS, Reno 301 CFS and Vista 346 CFS.

East Walker River

Flows are holding steady at 21 CFS. They will probably remain in this range for quite some time. The fishing has been pretty tough. Colder weather has allowed some anchor ice to form on the river making it a little tougher to navigate and fish. Some really cold weather is expected over the next week or so and it might be a good idea to look at fishing somewhere else in the short term. If you go the afternoons are the best time to fish and give you the best possibility for some clean ice free water.

Frenchman’s Reservoir

Frenchman’s is ice free and fishing really good. This could change any time if we get some sustained cold weather like is expected in the next week or two. For now the lake is fishable and worth a try. The water temperatures are in the low 40’s and fish are being caught. Hanging midges in 12-18 feet of water has been a great way to go. Deep water indicator leaders fished with Maholo Midges is hard to beat in sizes 14-18. If you are going to go and try Frenchman’s do it soon, ice should not be far off.

Little Truckee River

The flows came up to 43 CFS from 32 CFS over a week ago. The river is in great shape and the roads are still open all the way to Stampede Reservoir. The water is cold but that is normal for this time of year. Fish are being caught on Baetis nymphs in size 18 and midges in 18-20. There is some sporadic dry fly fishing in the middle of the day especially on cloudy days. The hatch is very light but fish are looking up a bit. The higher flows will help some for sure. No need to get out too early this time of year. The best fishing is usually in the middle of the day. Keep an eye on the next storm and how much snow drops in the area. The road to the Little Truckee is not plowed in the winter.

December 9th

Pyramid Lake

The fishing at the lake has been a little tough over the past week. We are cycling through the full moon right now and that probably has something to do with it. It is common for the full moon to put a damper on the fishing at Pyramid. The other factor is the lake is cooling down and the water temperatures are starting to drop into the high 40’s. This is common for December. The water temperatures normally bottom out around 42 degrees during the winter and they are headed in that direction. This will move a large portion of the fish into deeper warmer water until sometime in February or early March. There are usually enough fish roaming around some of the deeper beaches throughout the winter to keep anglers coming to the lake seeking a chance to catch a fish of a lifetime. Winter is usually a great time to catch a big fish at Pyramid just don’t expect to catch a lot of fish in between. There is a sizeable storm headed for the sierras this weekend and it could be just what we needed to give the fishing a boost. Keep an eye on the weather this weekend it looks like we could be in for some really high winds as the storm moves in. Stripping Wooly Worms and Tadpoles along the bottom has been working well. Nymphing under an indicator has also been catching fish. Maholo Nymphs in Red or Wine have been the most effective as well as Balanced Leeches in White Ghost and Olive Martini colors. For more information on flies and fishing techniques go to www.pyramidlakeflyfishing.com

Truckee River

The river continues to flow beautifully from Boca Bridge through Reno. The water is still very low from Tahoe City where there is no water coming out of Lake Tahoe down through the town of Truckee. Recent storms are helping the flows on the lower part of the river where we are getting some run off and a little help from the Little Truckee coming out of Boca Reservoir. The lower river around Reno is really fishable right now. The flows are just about perfect. This would be a good time to get out on the river for a day or two. Keep an eye on the flows if you plan to fish the Truckee they are bound to change frequently over the next few months. Nymphing with smaller flies is the way to go. Try Baetis Nymphs, Midges and pretty much any generic bead head patterns in size 16-20. Flows are: Town of Truckee 46 CFS, Boca Bridge 345 CFS, Farad 372 CFS, Reno 304 CFS and Vista 350 CFS.

Little Truckee River

The flows came up to 43 CFS from 32 CFS this week. The river is in great shape and the roads are still open all the way to Stampede Reservoir. The water is cold but that is normal for this time of year. Fish are being caught on Baetis nymphs in size 18 and midges in 18-20. There is some sporadic dry fly fishing in the middle of the day especially on cloudy days. The hatch is very light but fish are looking up a bit. The higher flows will help some for sure. No need to get out too early this time of year. The best fishing is usually in the middle of the day. Keep an eye on the next storm and how much snow drops in the area. The road to the Little Truckee is not plowed in the winter.

East Walker River

Flows have been around the 20 CFS area for over four weeks now. A little warmer weather has helped the conditions a little over the past week. There is still some ice around the edges and that should be the case for a while now. The best time to be on the water is late morning until midafternoon. This is the time of day when the water is its warmest and the fish are most active. Perfect bankers hours fishing conditions right now. Small nymphs in sizes 16-20 are the way to go. Baetis mayflies and Midges are the predominant available food source for sure. Keep an eye on the weather and the overnight temperatures in the Bridgeport area before making a trip to the East Walker.

December 2nd

Pyramid Lake

After a tough week of fishing two weeks ago, the lake has turned out some pretty good days this past week. Storms, low pressure and some wind are all a big part of the lake fishing better, especially over the past few days. Figuring out when and where the fish will show up is still a little bit of a mystery. We have reports from all over the lake and it is still good one day and slow the next in most places. If you use some of our tips and tricks from last week’s report you can put the conditions in your favor but that is still no guarantee right now. If you are in a spot and the fishing is slow you can either wait for some fish to show up or move to a new location. We are still in for some unsettled weather for the next few days and the fishing should be pretty good. Anglers are catching a lot of fish on Bloody Mary and Olive Martini Wooly Worms with a shooting head. Chartreuse Loco Beetles are a good bet for a dropper. Nymphing under an indicator has also been working well. Some big fish have been landed on Red Maholo Nymphs just off the bottom this week.

Truckee River

Flows have continued to come up over the past week. This is a result of some much needed rain and snow in the higher elevations and some extra water releases from Prosser and Boca Reservoirs. The river looks fantastic compared to three weeks ago. As we get storms bringing rain and snow this winter expect the flows to fluctuate some. The river is totally fishable now but don’t expect great results. The low water over the summer and fall took its toll on the Truckee and it could be a while before the river is back to normal. Nymphing in the middle of the day is a great way to go right now. With colder water and weather the warmer afternoons are the best time to fish. Small Stonefly Nymphs with a Baetis Dropper is a good way to go. Flows are: Town of Truckee 27 CFS, Boca Bridge 211 CFS, Farad 243 CFS, Reno 189 CFS and Vista 243 CFS.

Little Truckee River

The flows remain low at 32 CFS. Low flows are normal on the L.T. this time of year. The water is cold and clear and the fish are pretty spooky so use some stealth. Nymphing with a really neutral indicator with small Midges and dark colored Mayflies in sizes 18-20 is the way to go. There are a few bugs flying around but most of the fish are being caught under the surface. This pattern should remain for some time now.

East Walker River

Flows have been around the 20 CFS area for over four weeks now. A little warmer weather has helped the conditions a little over the past week. There is still some ice around the edges and that should be the case for a while now. The best time to be on the water is late morning until midafternoon. This is the time of day when the water is its warmest and the fish are most active. Perfect bankers hours fishing conditions right now. Small nymphs in sizes 16-20 are the way to go. Baetis mayflies and Midges are the predominant available food source for sure. Keep an eye on the weather and the overnight temperatures in the Bridgeport area before making a trip to the East Walker.

November 25th

Pyramid Lake

Fishing has been pretty tough over the past few days. A high pressure system moved into Northern Nevada and with it brought sunny skies and light and variable winds. It is common for this type of weather to slow the Pyramid fishing way down. Pyramid like many stillwaters can be effected on a daily basis by the weather. The overall fishing conditions at the lake are really good right now and there have been some really good fishing days in the past couple of weeks. On days like we have had this week there are a few things you can do to improve the fishing conditions. Fish first light and last light. A lot of times when there is a really sunny day and no wind the fish will move into shallow water while the sun is down. This was definitely the case on Monday and Tuesday. Try to get the wind (if any) in your favor. Sometimes the wind will blow on one side of the lake or the other. If this is the case follow the wind and try to fish in areas with chop on the surface. Be ready when the conditions change. Conditions change on a regular basis at the lake and it is important to observe the changes and be ready to fish when they do. If you are at the lake all day you may only have a 2 hour window when the fish are feeding. These tips will help to make you a better angler at Pyramid on a regular basis.

There is some weather expected to come into the area as early as Friday and through the weekend. This should improve the conditions and there will be a few good days to fish in there somewhere. Slow stripping Wooly Worms, Loco Beetles and Tadpoles continues to work really well this fall. There is still some weeds and grass on the bottom on many beaches and flies with foam in them can really make a difference. Nymphing is also worth a try. Maholo Nymphs in Red or Wine fished on a floating line with or without an indicator has been effective as well.

Truckee River

Not much has changed over the past week. We did get some rain and the flows went up a bit but expect them to come back down over the next few days. The river is much more fishable right now and could be a nice change of pace. The flows are best around the section between Boca Bridge and the Nevada state line. The sooner the better for sure and keep an eye on the flows. Nymphing deeper runs with a couple of bead head nymphs is a great way to go right now. Flows are Town of Truckee 9 CFS, Boca Bridge 161 CFS, Farad 119 CFS and Reno 88 CFS. Last Week’s flows were much lower. These fluctuations could happen more frequently as occasional storms move through the area this winter.

Little Truckee River

The flows remain low at 32 CFS. Low flows are normal on the L.T. this time of year. The water is cold and clear and the fish are pretty spooky so use some stealth. Nymphing with a really neutral indicator with small Midges and dark colored Mayflies in sizes 18-20 is the way to go. There are a few bugs flying around but most of the fish are being caught under the surface. This pattern should remain for some time now.

East Walker River

Flows have been around the 20 CFS area for over four weeks now. A little warmer weather has helped the conditions a little over the past week. There is still some ice around the edges and that should be the case for a while now. The best time to be on the water is late morning until midafternoon. This is the time of day when the water is its warmest and the fish are most active. Perfect bankers hours fishing conditions right now. Small nymphs in sizes 16-20 are the way to go. Baetis mayflies and Midges are the predominant available food source for sure. Keep an eye on the weather and the overnight temperatures in the Bridgeport area before making a trip to the East Walker.

Davis Lake

Davis is all but iced over. It could be a while before the conditions improve, maybe even next March. It is a little too early for ice fishing but that could change over the next month or so.

November 18th

Pyramid Lake

There have been a number of big fish caught over the past couple of weeks. The strong thermoclines finally broke down in the lake and cooler water in the shallows has brought the fish into shallow water and near some of the more popular shore fishing locations. This is very consistent with our report from last year. Fishing should remain really good until the water temperatures cool down to their wintertime lows. They are in the mid 50’s right now and will continue drop over the next few weeks. Fish are really spread out from the North to the South end of the lake. Days with some chop on the water have been better for sure. Try to fish in areas where the wind is coming into the beach you are on. Anglers are catching fish on a variety of flies and techniques. Stripping Wooly Worms in size 2-6 with a Loco Beetle or Tadpole as a dropper with a fast sinking shooting head is a great way to go. Nymph rigs set up with an indicator and a couple of Maholo Nymphs just off the bottom is also working well. For more information on flies and techniques at the lake go to www.pyramidlakeflyfishing.com 775.742.1754

Truckee River

The flows on the Truckee are as low right now as they have been in almost 20 years. They are reading even lower due to ice forming on some of the shoreline due to cold weather. This is going to be very common for the next few months. The lower flows slow down the current and make it easier for the water in the river to freeze. It may be awhile before the Truckee has fishable conditions and even then it will be tough. Flows are: Town of Truckee 8 CFS, Boca Bridge 37 CFS, Farad 50 CFS, Reno 26 CFS.

Little Truckee River

The Little Truckee is in much better shape than the Truckee although the flows are also quite low at 32 CFS. Low flows are normal on the L.T. this time of year. The water is cold and clear and the fish are pretty spooky so use some stealth. Nymphing with a really neutral indicator with small Midges and dark colored Mayflies in sizes 18-20 is the way to go. There are a few bugs flying around but most of the fish are being caught under the surface. This pattern should remain for some time now.

East Walker River

Flows have been around the 20 CFS area for over three weeks now. Cold air temperatures have moved into the Bridgeport area and Ice is definitely an issue right now. Warmer weather is really needed to melt some shoreline ice and make the East Walker fishable again.

Davis Lake

Davis has been fairly slow lately. This time last year it was fishing really well. It seems as though the low water may have also taken its toll at Davis this year. The water is in the mid 40’s already and is heading towards freezing sometime soon. Anglers fishing intermediate lines with Wiggle Tails and Wooly buggers in Burnt Orange and Rust are doing the best. There are some fish being caught on black Chironomids fished under an indicator in 6-12 feet of water as well.

November 4th

Pyramid Lake

Fishing has been pretty tough at the lake for a couple of weeks now. However there have been some really nice fish caught in the last few days. Going back to our fishing report last year the patterns were very similar. Tough fishing in late October and early November and then the big fish started to show up for shore anglers as the water cooled.

Bait balls generally start to disperse in mid-October and head for deeper water. Thermoclines that separate warmer and cooler water in the fall tend to break up as the first winter storms and big winds approach the area and this also helps to spread out the fish and the bait. The next 6 weeks or so should be productive for fly fishermen seeking big fish. The numbers will be tough to come by for sure but that one big bite is only a cast away. As the water plummets in mid-December to around 43-46 degrees the fishing can get really tough, even for the hardiest Pyramid angler.

The weeds, moss and grass is really starting to disappear on most beaches and it is way easier to get in a retrieve without grabbing a bunch of salad on the way in. There is still some out there but not nearly as much. Two fly rigs fished on fast sinking shooting heads is starting to pay off from shore or ladders all around the lake. Beaches that offer deep water access are still the way to go. There is a bunch of this type of water on the South end of the lake. Go to www.pyramidlakeflyfishing.com/beaches for more information. Now that the Tui Chubs have dispersed some, fish are also starting to grab nymphs and midges a little better as well. Maholo Nymphs in Red, Wine or black are all great choices for nymph rigs.

Truckee River

The flows on the Truckee continue to be lower than they have been in 20 years. The water temperatures are not an issue but the holding water is. Most of the fish on the river have had to bunch up in larger pools to survive for the last couple of months. There is a lack of food and space for sure. Even if we have a big winter and the flows return to normal there are going to be some long term effects on fish population on a river that has been well known for quality fish and low numbers anyway. These fish deserve a chance to survive and get a break until conditions improve. The next hurdle they could face is a river that could all but freeze this winter. Flows are: Town of Truckee 6 CFS, Boca Bridge 56 CFS, Reno 37 CFS and Vista 29 CFS.

Little Truckee River

Flows on the Little Truckee are 32 CFS. This is actually normal for this time of year. It is still very low flows but it is normal for water to be held back in Stampede Reservoir in the fall. There are Baetis hatching sporadically during the day and both Nymphing and dry fly fishing with Baetis and Midges has been effective. The Little Truckee is a very technical fishery during low flows and requires a soft touch. Less casts and more observation is important. Constant casting with an indicator rig usually will not result in too many fish. You can hang out in one spot for a while but spend some time making sure your flies are clean, floating high and drifting in the correct lanes. In water this clear using sparse patterns with little or no flash will also help. Size 18-22 Baetis and Midge patterns are the way to go.

East Walker River

The E.W. is flowing at 20 CFS. This is just about normal for November. Very low but the East Walker is a small stream that can handle these flows. Small flies such as Midges and Baetis Mayflies are as good a bet as anything right now. A dry dropper rig is the way to go even though there are not very many takes on the dry. It is just a good idea to camouflage your indicator as much as possible and a dry fly that can float a small nymph is hard to beat. If you are good at High Sticking a couple of weighted nymphs that is also a good way to go. Look for larger pools and runs where fish will winter in the East Walker. Fish slow and make good drifts for best results.

October 14th

Pyramid Lake

The first two weeks of the season have been really good overall. The fish have been aggressively chasing Tui Chubs around the lake and in some cases right up to shore and in shallow water. Most of the fish however have been in 20-60 feet of water. Anglers fishing from boats either trolling or jigging in those depths seem to be doing the best. Shore fishing has been a little tougher for sure. The key right now is finding fish and the bait. This can require some moving around and fishing different areas. Shore anglers can focus on deep drop off areas such as Block House or Sand hole. Boaters are doing very well across the lake near Anderson Bay or Hell’s Kitchen and also on the West side near Warrior Point and heading south. There have been some really big fish caught so far and it should only get better over the next couple of months. The water is still pretty warm near the surface so take care releasing fish after a long fight. Jigs and Spoons are working for the boaters in 20-60 feet of water. Shore Anglers fly fishing should try a fast sinking line with small Minnow Patterns or Wooly Buggers in White or Olive. If you venture out into the lake with a Pontoon Boat or Float Tube look for water in the 20-30 feet range and let your line sink. Lots of grabs are coming on the way up from the bottom. Indicator Nymphing is also worth a try but you need to be able to get your flies down deep. An Umpqua Deep Water Indicator Leader is the way to go for sure. This allows you to fish under an indicator in up to 20 feet. Try Big Nymph Patterns such as Maholo Nymphs and Leeches that will sink a little faster.

Truckee River

The river remains very low. The highest flows are around Farad at 69 CFS. The water is cooler now for sure. The best areas for fish are on the California side of the River between Boca Bridge and the State Line. This section of the river has the most water and a pretty good gradient with more flowing water. The Upper California section and the Nevada side are relatively flat and run much slower in low water situations creating much more “Frog Water” The whole river can be fished but try to tread lightly and take care of the fish. There has been some Baetis And even an October Caddis hatch occasionally in the evenings. Flows are: Town of Truckee 6 CFS, Boca Bridge 54 CFS, Farad 69 CFS, Reno 34 CFS and Vista 80 CFS.

Little Truckee River

Flows have been holding steady at 40 CfS for a while now. These are low flows but we are used to seeing the Little Truckee at these flows this time of year. There has been a really good Baetis Hatch going on for some time, usually in mid to late morning. Nymphing and dry fly fishing with size 18-20 Baetis patterns have been working well. The Little Truckee has been getting hammered all season so a good pattern, a good drift and a stealthy approach is a must. Light Tippet will also help. Less drifts and more observation will help a ton. Take a good look at a run or pool and watch for feeding fish. After you have made a few casts give it a break for a few minutes and try a new angle. Look for fish in shallow moving water. Keep an eye on your flies for moss and muck from the river.

Davis Lake

The Water Temperatures at Davis have come down quite a bit. The fall bite is starting to kick in. Fish are still really spread out in the lake which makes it important to move around until you find some fish. They can be in one area one day and in a completely different area the next. Hanging Blood Midges under an indicator in 4-12 feet of water has been effective. Wiggle Tails with a smaller Callabaetis dropper fished with a slow sinking line is also starting to improve. Davis is low and there are lots of features to the lake right now. It is a fun time to fish for sure. Lightning Tree campground is still open as well.

East Walker River

The East Walker is extremely low right now at 20 CFS. It is still fishable but it is low. Small bugs and light tippets are a little more important now with steady flows and more clear water. Baetis and Midges in size 18-22 are your best bet right now either fished with or without an indicator High Stick style. There has been some dry fly activity but mainly on the California side near the dam. It is getting cold in the Bridgeport area overnight and there is no rush to get on the water. You can pretty much fish all day right now.

October 1st

Pyramid Lake

Pyramid Lake is now open. Early reports from opening day were pretty mixed. The surface water temperature is still in the low to mid 60’s. This is fairly warm going into the season. Boaters did the best trolling in 10-30 feet of water on the West side of the lake. Shore anglers are going to have to deal with weeds for a few more weeks due to the warm water. Once the weather changes weeds will die off and the bottom will be more conducive to dragging flies and jigs along the bottom. There were fish caught on most of the popular beaches in a variety of ways but Spin fishermen using lead head jigs seemed to do the best. There is lots of bait (Tui Chubs) along the West and South end of the lake. Seagulls are a dead giveaway to some of the numerous bait balls showing up in shallow water. There is plenty of action around these areas. Minnow patterns fished with a fast sinking line for fly fishermen is a good way to go if you can figure out how to stay out of the weeds. Using a float tube or a pontoon boat is also a good way to go if you are careful to keep an eye on the winds and weather. Getting out into a little deeper water is an advantage right now. Warrior Point is a great place to try out your float tube skills and there are plenty of fish and bait hanging out in this area. The fishing should only improve as water temperatures cool and the weeds die back.

Truckee River

The river got a little boost from last week’s rain but that only lasted a day or two. The flows have dropped drastically again as of September 30th. Last week’s report has not changed much.

The Truckee continues to get lower and lower. The flows coming out of Lake Tahoe have dropped from 18 CFS two weeks ago to 8 CFS last week. It has also been cut back at Donner Lake to 38 CFS. The only kind of fishable stretch of River is in the Canyon section between Boca Bridge and the Nevada State Line where the flows are between 60-80 CFS. (Still Really Low) By the time the river gets to Mogul the flows are only 19 CFS and 55 CFS through Reno. The Nevada side of the river should be avoided by fisherman at this time. These fish are already going to have a hard time making it through the fall season. It is looking more and more like we will need a few years of recovery for a sustainable trout population on the Nevada side of the river.

Little Truckee River

Flows remain at 40 CFS. The moss is starting to dissipate some and it is getting a little easier to get a good drift without collecting gunk on your flies. There has been a really good Baetis hatch on most days. They are in the size 18 range. Fish are defenatly targeting Baetis both on the surface and below. The river remains pretty busy due to the low flows on the Truckee. Even though it pays to get there early to get a good spot the hatch does not usually start until late morning. Don’t get impatient and take your time when approaching new water. Spend more time observing and less time blind casting. Make sure you have some dry shake for dry fly fishing and use no more than 5X tippet or even 6X.

East Walker River

The fly fishing on the East Walker is starting to pick up some. Cooler weather associated with the fall season has helped tremendously. The water is low at 22 CFS but it is cool enough now to not be so much of an issue. Don’t expect the flows to change much over the next few months. Grasshoppers are fewer and fewer with the cold overnight lows and fish are really keying in on smaller bugs. Baetis and Midges are the way to go for Nymphing. It is still worth fishing a dry dropper rig but most of the takes are going to be on the nymphs. Fish are still really spread out on the California and Nevada sides of the river. Take some small flies and get good drifts. Wear neutral clothing and take your time approaching runs and pools. The East Walker should be a good option for fishing over the next couple of months.

Davis Lake

Water temps. have dipped into the upper 50’s. Fish are starting to get a little more aggressive for sure. The weeds are just starting to die back a little. Callabaetis, Blood Midges and Chironomids are all out in force, especially on non-windy days. Stripping Wiggle Tails with a smaller dropper like a Callabaetis nymph, Damsel or Snail pattern on an intermediate line is a great way to go. Hanging Nymphs and Midges under an indicator in 4-8 feet of water is also catching fish. Snail patterns are also worth a try. The mornings have still been the best time to be on the water but you can fish all day now with the lower water temperatures.

Frenchman’s Reservoir

Frenchman’s is low but the fish are big and healthy. Callabaetis have been hatching mid-morning and there are plenty of midges around. There have been some fish caught in the shallows but the best way to approach Frenchman’s has been with a Deep Water Lake Leader and hanging Maholo Nymphs and Midges in 9-16 feet below the surface. The takes are quick and you have to be ready. Keep slack out of your line and keep your rod tip on the water. The best time to fish this technique is when there is a little chop on the water. Late mornings have been the best time.

September 23rd

Pyramid Lake

Opens to Trout Fishing October 1st. This is going to be an interesting and hopefully another great year at Pyramid. We now have two sustainable strains of Lahontan Cutthroat Trout in the Lake. The Summit Lake strain which has been the main strain in the lake for the last 20 years or more and the Pilot Peak Strain which was introduced back into the lake in 2006-2007. Both strains of fish play an important role in the fishing at Pyramid Lake. We are still learning a lot about the Pilot Peak strain and some of what we think we know is based on only a few years of experience catching these fish. There is much more recent history with the Summit Lake strain.

In years past most of the Summit Lake Cutthroats are still in deeper water on opening day. It has a lot to do with water temperatures. The boaters usually do very well in October catching these fish in 20-40 feet of water or more. Trolling is a great way to fish this time of year. Shore fishermen usually try to fish near fast drop-offs where deeper water can be accessed. Looking for Tui Chubs and Perch Fry are also important to finding fish. As the fall wears on and water temperatures drop more and more fish can be caught from shore in more like 8-15 feet of water. The fish can be really spread out and moving around is important to finding fish. This should be very close to how the fishing goes for the Summit Lake strain of Lahontan Cutthroats again this fall.

The Pilot Peak Strain do not act like the Summit Lake strain. They are more aggressive, tend to grow faster and may even live longer. They also seem to hang out in different water. These fish seem to spend a lot more time chasing Tui Chubs and smaller Trout and will move in and out with the schools of bait. There are usually more Tui Chubs near shore in the fall so there may be some really big fish close enough for shore fishermen to catch as early as Opening day. We still have a lot to learn about these fish and what the future holds for the largest Cutthroats on the Planet. Your best bet is to look for beaches that offer access to deeper water and also look for schools of bait. Minnow Patterns fished with a fast sinking shooting head should be the way to get started this season. Look for a detailed report after opening day.

Truckee River

The Truckee continues to get lower and lower. The flows coming out of Lake Tahoe have dropped from 18 CFS last week to 8 CFS this week. It has also been cut back at Donner Lake from 55 CFS to 42 CFS. The only kind of fishable stretch of River is in the Canyon section between Boca Bridge and the Nevada State Line where the flows are between 60-80 CFS. (Still Really Low) By the time the river gets to Mogul the flows are only 9 CFS and 27 CFS through Reno. The Nevada side of the river should be avoided by fisherman at this time. These fish are already going to have a hard time making it through the fall season. It is looking more and more like we will need a few years of recovery for a sustainable trout population on the Nevada side of the river.

East Walker River

Flows are down to 25 CFS. They will most likely stay in this range for the rest of the fall. Air temperatures have dropped in the Bridgeport area and the water temps. as well. The fish are in really good shape after a long hot dry summer. Both the California and Nevada sides of the river are fish O.K. It is a little tough due to the low flows. Dry dropper set-ups are still the way to go. High sticking some of the deeper runs is also worth a try. Small Nymphs and Midges in size 16-20 seem to be catching the most fish. Mornings are the best for sure but you do not have to beat the roosters to the water anymore. It is cool enough to fish all day. Take a stealthy approach, wear some neutral clothing and get good drifts.

Little Truckee River

Flows have been the same for three or four weeks now at 40 CFS. The fall bite is just getting started on the L.T. There are some Baetis starting to hatch mid to late mornings and also midges early and late. Nymphing is really tough this time of year, mostly because of moss both on the bottom and drifting in the water. Keeping your flies clean is really difficult. If you are fishing under an indicator it is important to check your flies on almost every cast. Dry flies will even get caught in floating moss. Make less casts with cleaner flies. Take your time and try to target fish in the water before casting. Blind casting on the Little Truckee over and over at these flows usually does not boad well. San Juan Worms, Size 18-20 Midges and size 18 Baetis nymphs and dries are the way to go.

Davis Lake

Davis continues to fish well. Water temperatures are still in the low 60’s due to some warmer than normal weather this September. It won’t be long until the fall bite is wide open. There is a great Callabaetis hatch on non-windy days from late morning until early afternoon. Blood Midges and Lime colored Chironomids are also hatching sporadically throughout the day. This is a great time of year to test out your dry fly skills at Davis on the right day. Nymphing under an indicator in 3-5 feet of water is also worth a try. Slow stripping Sheep Creek specials and Wiggle Tails with an intermediate line is also catching fish. Use no less than 4X or 3X for nymph rigs and 2X for streamer rigs. These fish are pulling hard and there are a lot of weeds.

Frenchman’s Reservoir

Fish continue to hammer deep water indicator rigs fished with Maholo Nymphs and Midges. There is also a Callabaetis hatch mid mornings as well. The fish in Frenchman’s are strong and as big as they have been in recent years. The lake is really low and there is only one boat ramp open. Try fishing Nymphs and Midges in 9-16 feet of water using Umpqua’s deep water Lake Leader with a Break away indicator. Sink tip or Type II sinking lines with Snail patterns are also worth a try.

September 16th

Truckee River

The flows on the Truckee River have plummeted again in the last few days. A couple of the flow gauges are having a hard time even registering any flow at all at this point. The Truckee should be left alone until there is an increase in flows. The fish that hopefully have survived so far need to use all their energy to survive these extreme conditions. We have not seen the Truckee in this bad of shape in 20+ years. The water coming out of Lake Tahoe is only running at 18 CFS. The largest influx of water is from Donner Creek at 55 CFS. The river is flowing 20 CFS in Reno as well. Keep your fingers crossed and let’s hope we have an early winter.

Little Truckee River

The flows on the Little Truckee are 40 CFS. They have been this way for a couple of weeks now. This is low but not unusual for this time of year. The Little Truckee is a much smaller river than the Truckee and can handle the low flows. The water is very cold and clear. There is a lot of moss on the bottom making Nymphing extremely difficult. You must keep an eye on your flies and clean them often. Even dry flies. The river is pretty crowded due to anglers not fishing the Truckee right now. There has been some Baetis hatching in mid mornings and there are some midges as well. Pick your spots and observe the river. Fish are really camouflaged against the dark bottom. Make less drifts and take your time in good water. Try to wear neutral clothing as well. 5X and 6X long leaders are a must.

East Walker River

Flows on the East Walker are down to 25 CFS. They just dropped in the past few days. The fishing has been pretty tough since the flows dropped. It has been cool in the Bridgeport area and the water temperatures are o.k. Fish are really spread out in deeper holes and runs on both the Nevada and California sides of the river. Small nymphs and midges fished under an attractor dry is been working fairly well. Fish are also still eating some larger flies on the surface. Bridgeport Reservoir is really low so do not expect the flows to change much over the next couple of months at least.

Davis Lake

Davis is probably in the best shape of any of our area fisheries. There has been an awesome Callabaetis hatch late mornings on non-windy days as well as plenty of midges. Fish have been working the hatch over pretty well for the past week both on the surface and a few feet below. Callabaetis nymphs fished with either a floating line or an intermediate line and a long 4X leader in 3-9 feet of water has been the way to go. You can also hang these flies under an indicator 3-6 feet down. Try Albino Wino’s and Wine Maholo Nymphs. Be careful to check the weed growth where you are fishing. In some cases your depth finder will mark 12 feet of water but the fishable depth is only 5 feet due to weeds. The weeds should start to die off in the coming weeks. The fishing is still pretty tough in the afternoons but that should change soon as well. This should be an awesome fall at Davis. The fish are in great shape and are really big.

Frenchman’s Reservoir

Frenchman’s is really low. The fishing has been outstanding however. There is a great Callabaetis hatch going on in the mid mornings. Most of the fish are still in a little deeper water and can be caught with either sinking lines or a deep water indicator rig. Try to get down into 8-14 feet of water. The fish have been on the grab for sure. Maholo Nymphs and Midges fished under a Deep Water Lake Leader has been really working well. The strikes are quick so you have to be ready. A type two sinking line and anything from small wooly buggers to snail patterns has been also working. Sheep Creek Specials are a great way to go.

Pyramid Lake

The lake opens to fishing on October 1st. Usually this early in the fall the lake water temperatures are still pretty warm. The fishing from shore can be pretty tough. The Troller’s have done very well in the past in October. Fish seem to still be hanging out in 20-40 feet of water chasing bait. As the water cools the bait and the trout will come into areas with deeper drop offs and make themselves available to shore anglers. If you are going to the lake for the opener look for beaches with fast drop offs. Block House, Popcorn, Howards Bay and Sand hole are all worth trying. Fast sinking shooting heads are a must with White or Chartreuse Wooly Worms. This should be a great year at the lake.

September 1st

Truckee River

The Truckee is still really low and getting lower. This is probably going to go on for quite some time. Most likely until late into the fall or winter until we get some precipitation and some lower elevation snow melt. Lake Tahoe only has about 5 inches of storage and the flows out of the lake are dropping daily. These are really bad conditions to even consider fishing on the Truckee right now. If you have to please do it in the mornings and the California side is probably your best bet. This would be a better time to try somewhere new or to even walk some of the river with a note pad or a camera and look and see what your favorite spot looks like while it is low. The air temperatures are still really warm on the Nevada side and the fish could really use a break until we get some water. Flows are listed below with the normal flows in Red.

The East Walker River is flowing at 43 CFS. Although the normal flows for this time of year are much higher, we are used to seeing the East Walker at this flow. It is really early in the fall for it to be low and it has been in tough shape for most of the summer. There are a few things that have helped the East Walker. The projections of the water levels in Bridgeport reservoir have been higher, there has been some summer rain and the overnight lows in the Bridgeport area help the water temperatures some. The East Walker is also a much smaller stream than the Truckee and the water moves much faster at lower flows creating more oxygen. There is still a need to fish the East Walker early in the day and keep an eye on the water temperatures. They have come down quite a bit but can get warm in the afternoons. There is some warmer weather expected over the next week or so.

The Hoppers are still out in force and Hopper Dropper set-ups are a great way to start. Lower flows usually make this system worth a try, especially before a hard freeze that will kill most of the summer’s hoppers. Short line Nymphing without an indicator is also a good way to go right now. There should be some fall hatches starting soon and having Baetis nymphs and dries as well as an assortment of midges is a must. Smaller bugs in size 16-20 and light tippets like 5X-6X will also help. The Nevada side seems to be in a little better shape right now but the whole river is fishable.

Davis Lake

Davis Lake was probably in the best shape to make it through a dry hot summer out of all our local fisheries. The water was a bit higher going in and there is not quite as much usage as some of the other area reservoirs. It is only at 50% capacity but that is still better than most of the other area Stillwaters. The water temperatures have come down and are now not much of an issue. The fish are still more active in the mornings and they are still hanging out in a little deeper water. Hanging Blood Midges in 6-20 feet of water is a great way to start your day. As fish start to get more aggressive this fall switching to an intermediate sinking line and retrieving anything from Damsels to Wooly buggers will get you into some fish. There are some really big fish starting to show at Davis and heavier tippet is a good idea. Especially if you are stripping flies with a sinking line. Davis is going to be a great option for local fly fisherman this fall and it should fish well.

Little Truckee River

Flows on the Little Truckee are 41 CFS. Although low we are used to seeing these kind of flows on the L.T. in the fall. The Kokanee have started to move into the river out of Boca Reservoir which is not normal for this early in the fall. The Brown Trout should not be far behind. The Little Truckee is tough to fish right now. The moss on the bottom is breaking up and creating lots of drifting obstacles in the water. This makes it very hard to nymph fish. Cleaning your flies often is a must. Dragging the bottom is not an option. Fish are hanging out in the few deeper runs in the Little Truckee and with the Big Truckee in such bad shape you have to get there early to beat the guides and locals who know the river to the good spots. Baetis Mayflies have started to show up and Midges are always a good bet.

The Little Truckee is the type of fishery where a few good casts will always catch more fish than blind casting over and over in the same run. Sit back and observe the fish. You can see them feeding in the water column. Look for rising fish and then make a plan before you jump right in and spook a fish you did not even see. The bottom is dark and fish are very camouflaged. Take a moment to observe and you will be surprised at what you might see.

August 20th

Truckee River

The river has been dropping daily since we had a boost in the flows from some much needed rain a couple of weeks ago. As the lake level in Lake Tahoe slowly approaches the natural rim expect the flows to continue to drop over the next month at least. The California side of the river is in much better shape than the Nevada side. The water is cooler and the flows are closer to normal. The best time to fish is in the mornings for sure. Look for any deeper water near white water. The fish are really seeking out holding areas and water with more oxygen right now. Smaller flies and lighter tippet is a must. Most of us have not fished the Truckee in these conditions and it takes a much softer hand right now. There are not too many bugs in the system to speak of and most of the fish are in lock down mode. There are probably other opportunities in the area that are a better bet than the Truckee. Flows are Town of Truckee 111 CFS, Boca Bridge 176 CFS, Farad 195 CFS, Reno 80 CFS and Vista 101 CFS.

East Walker River

The East Walker is running at 42 CFS above Sweetwater creek and 62 CFS below on the Nevada side. The water has cleared up quite a bit since the thunderstorms last week and the fishing has improved a bit. The temps are still in the 60’s and the fish are hanging in there, fighting well and releasing well. The fishing is still the best down below the bridge on the California side or on the Nevada side of the river. The best time to fish is still in the morning up until about lunch time but the water has cooled off with the air temperatures a bunch. There are still plenty of Hoppers around and attractor dries or dry dropper rigs are working as well as anything. Weather over the next week look promising and it looks like the river may survive the summer. We still need a big winter for sure.

Davis Lake

The Water temperatures at Davis have come down quite a bit. They are in the mid to high 60’s right now and the fish have gotten more active. It is still early but this fall should be really good at Davis. The mornings are the best bet right now. Callabaetis, Blood Midges and Damsel nymphs are all worth a try. In the early mornings fish are on the surface eating left over bugs from the day before and later in the morning fishing nymphs and midges under an indicator in 6-12 feet of water is the way to go. Stripping small Damsel nymphs with an intermediate or hover line is also working well.

Little Truckee River

Flows are 45 CFS. They have been holding steady for about two weeks now. There is a lot of slime and moss drifting through the water right now and getting a good drift is tough. It is very important to keep your flies clean and check them between drifts for moss. The water is low which also makes getting a good drift tough. There is not much dry fly activity yet but we should see some Baetis activity in the next couple of weeks. 5X and 6X tippet is the way to go with flies in the 16-22 range. Keep the flash at a minimum and take a stealthy approach.

August 2nd

Truckee River

The Truckee river system is in really bad shape due to our water shortage. We have had three really bad winters in a row and the effects are becoming clearer and clearer. The water temperatures have been a problem for weeks now and are only going to get worse. The Federal Water Master’s office gave the news that the flows would be cut off from Boca Reservoir on July 29th. Most of the irrigation ditches are also shut off. Lake Tahoe is about 8 inches from its natural rim. Flows out of the lake are about 160 CFS on August 1st. They will continue to drop until Lake Tahoe reaches its natural rim sometime later this month unless we get some hard rain. Once the flows stop coming out of the lake the upper river will be all but dry down to the confluence of Donner creek. The flows are already below 100 CFS on the Nevada side. There is a stretch of the Truckee on the East end of Reno that is supposed to go dry later this month. That has not happened since the early 90’s. We encourage anglers to proceed very conservatively. The only stretch we recommend fishing right now is the Canyon section on the Lower California side and even there fishing should be limited from daylight until around 11:00 am. These conditions are likely to remain until the middle of winter and even longer depending on the precipitation in October and November. This would be a great year to plan some fishing in the fall on one of the area stillwaters such as Davis Lake or even further away from the Reno-Truckee area. There is always Pyramid starting in October! Here are the flows with the average flow for this time of year in Red. Town of Truckee 163 CFS (293 CFS), Boca Bridge 179 CFS (509 CFS), Farad 203 CFS (539 CFS), Reno 99 CFS (295 CFS) and Vista 120 CFS (383 CFS)

Little Truckee River

Flows on the Little Truckee are 49 CFS. These flows are also subject to change in the coming days and weeks. At 49 CFS it is still totally fishable. The water in the Little Truckee comes out of the bottom of Stampede Reservoir and is always a little colder so that is not an issue right now. Look for the Little Truckee to be very crowded with anglers and guides in the coming weeks as the situation on the Truckee deteriorates. Get there early to beat the crowds. There are not too many hatches going on right now and most fish are being caught on small nymphs and midges. It is very important to check your flies often for debris. There is a lot of drifting moss and grass in the water as well as on the bottom making very difficult to fish effectively. Size 6X tippet and size 20-22 flies are the best way to go right now.

East Walker River

Flows on the East Walker are 65 CFS on the California side and 43 on the Nevada side. The stretch of river just below Bridgeport Reservoir is in pretty bad shape. There is not much oxygen in the water and it is very warm coming out of the lake. It is probably a good idea to leave the first mile (the miracle mile) alone for a while. The river on the Lower California side and the Nevada side is in much better shape. There is more oxygen in the water once it has a chance to cool down some and flow downstream out of the lake. It is still very important to get there early and quit fishing around 11:00 am or so. The best thing to do is take a thermometer with you and keep an eye on the water temperatures. Once they reach 70 degrees in late morning give it a break. There have been some really cool nights in the Bridgeport area lately and this has helped the water temperatures a ton. Dry dropper set ups are still the way to go. Try a big Stimulator pattern with a small size 16-20 nymph or midge as the dropper. An even better way to go is to take two rods or fish with a buddy. One rod should be rigged up with a big dry and the other with a “high Stick” Nymphing rig. Fish the Dry through a run or hole first for a few casts and then go back through with the Nymph rig. Try to wear neutral clothing and have a stealthy approach.

Davis Lake

The water temperatures are still on the warm side on Davis Lake. There is a short window the first couple of hours of light. The fish have been moving into the shallows and eating bugs off the surface in the early mornings. They tend to head back into deeper colder water around 9:00 am or earlier. This is normal for this time of year. Davis is low but it is in better shape than some of the other local stillwaters. It will undoubtedly fish very well this fall when the air and water temps. start to cool. We are holding our annual fall Stillwater outing at Davis Lake on the weekend of September 12th. There are a few spaces still available. It should be great. If you are going to fish Davis now go early and plan on quitting around mid-morning. Be careful handling fish and get them back into the water quickly.

Frenchman’s Reservoir

Frenchman’s is very low. It is a deep lake and there is plenty of cold water still in the deeper parts of the lake. Fish are feeding in the mornings much like they are at Davis. They are big and healthy but still will not do too well when brought to the surface especially later in the day. This fall should be awesome at Frenchman’s as well.

July 29th

Truckee River

The Truckee river system is in really bad shape due to water the water shortage. We have had three really bad winters in a row and the effects are becoming clearer and clearer. The water temperatures have been a problem for weeks now and are only going to get worse. The Federal Water Master’s office has stated that the flows out of Boca Reservoir are going to be cut off tonight July 29th which will cut the flows on the river by 255 CFS. Most of the irrigation ditches are also going to be shut off by tomorrow. This will allow some extra water back into the river but in the next two days expect the flows through Reno to go from 266 CFS to about 120 CFS. The flows east of town could drop even more. In California the water is a little cooler but Lake Tahoe is approaching its natural rim and the flows in the upper river are also going to be very low. There has been some talk of limiting fishing on the river to mornings only but at these flows we should really leave the Truckee River alone for a while. Trout do not do well in water over 70 degrees and the water temperatures will easily exceed that in the days to come, especially on the Nevada side of the river. Please conserve water and help out in this time of need.

Little Truckee River

Flows on the Little Truckee are 49 CFS. These flows are also subject to change in the coming days and weeks. At 49 CFS it is still totally fishable. The water in the Little Truckee comes out of the bottom of Stampede Reservoir and is always a little colder so that is not an issue right now. Look for the Little Truckee to be very crowded with anglers and guides in the coming weeks as the situation on the Truckee deteriorates. Get there early to beat the crowds. There are not too many hatches going on right now and most fish are being caught on small nymphs and midges. It is very important to check your flies often for debris. There is a lot of drifting moss and grass in the water as well as on the bottom making very difficult to fish effectively. Size 6X tippet and size 20-22 flies are the best way to go right now.

East Walker River

Flows on the East Walker are 65 CFS on the California side and 43 on the Nevada side. The stretch of river just below Bridgeport Reservoir is in pretty bad shape. There is not much oxygen in the water and it is very warm coming out of the lake. It is probably a good idea to leave the first mile (the miracle mile) alone for a while. The river on the Lower California side and the Nevada side is in much better shape. There is more oxygen in the water once it has a chance to cool down some and flow downstream out of the lake. It is still very important to get there early and quit fishing around 11:00 am or so. The best thing to do is take a thermometer with you and keep an eye on the water temperatures. Once they reach 70 degrees in late morning give it a break. There have been some really cool nights in the Bridgeport area lately and this has helped the water temperatures a ton. Dry dropper set ups are still the way to go. Try a big Stimulator pattern with a small size 16-20 nymph or midge as the dropper. An even better way to go is to take two rods or fish with a buddy. One rod should be rigged up with a big dry and the other with a “high Stick” Nymphing rig. Fish the Dry through a run or hole first for a few casts and then go back through with the Nymph rig. Try to wear neutral clothing and have a stealthy approach

July 22nd

Truckee River

Cooler unsettled weather over the past week has helped the fishing quite a bit. The water temperatures have gone down a bit and the fish have been more active. Flows have not changed much on the Truckee except for the extreme downstream portion East of Reno. All of the local rainstorms have been in other areas except for East of Town. We have a couple more days of great weather before it starts to get hot again this coming weekend. There are still plenty of Stonefly husks on the rocks on the Nevada side of the river and Nymphing with a Stonefly and a smaller Dropper like a Caddis is a great way to go. Continue to look for fish in faster water in or near white water where there is more oxygen. Fish only need a foot or more of water to find a comfortable place to hang out. High Sticking or Nymphing without an indicator is the best way to go. Indicator rigs fished in this type of water tend to add a lot of drag to your flies and keep your flies from getting near the bottom. Mornings are still the best time to be on the water and that should continue for the rest of the summer. Flows are Town of Truckee: 213 CFS, Boca Bridge 444 CFS, Farad 489 CFS, Reno 301 CFS and Vista 319 CFS.

Little Truckee River

Flows dropped to 47 CFS about a week ago. They are slowly getting lower and lower. The Little Truckee is a Tail water and the flows are regulated. They will probably stay low like this for the rest of the summer and into fall and winter. The PMD hatch is on the way out for the year which is normal. There has been some smaller light colored Mayflies in size 18-20 hatching on portions of the river midday. Small flies and really light tippet is a must right now. Bright colored indicators will spook fish for sure. Dry dropper set-ups are a better way to go. Use flies with little or no flash. Small Mayflies in size 18-22 or Midges in the same sizes fished with 5X or 6X tippet is a good bet. Keeping your flies clean is also very important. As flows get lower and more and more moss forms on the bottom it is almost impossible to keep your flies clean. Check them often for best results.

East Walker River

Flows dropped to 68 CFS from 92 CFS a few days ago. Luckily there has been some cooler weather in the area and the water temperatures have been a little cooler. The Nevada side has been fishing better than the California side and has a little cooler water and more oxygen. It is still really important to carry a thermometer and quit fishing if and when the water reaches 70 degrees. As the flows get lower and the water in Bridgeport Reservoir gets lower the water is going to continue to get warmer. Fish are still looking up for Attractor dries near fast water in the seams. Stimulators and Hopper patterns are working well. Dry Dropper techniques are the way to go right now unless you are only using a dry fly. Get there early and plan on being done around early lunch time.

July 15th

Truckee River

Flows remain lower than normal on the Truckee. The water is warm and fishing has been tough. This pattern will most likely remain for the rest of the summer. The flows will probably get lower before the summer is over. The water is a little cooler in the upper elevations and gets warmer the further you go downstream. The stretch between Boca Bridge and the Nevada State Line is in the best shape as far as flows and water temps. The best time to be on the water is early morning through around lunch time. There are plenty of Stone Fly Husks on the rocks, especially on the lower river around Reno. Nymphing with a Stonefly Nymph and a smaller dropper like a Caddis is a great way to go. The fish are hanging out near white water where there is more oxygen. Seams and pockets only have to be a foot or two deep to hold a fish. High Sticking without an indicator is the way to go for sure. An indicator fished in this type of water will only pull your flies away from the fish and not look natural. There is still somewhat of an evening hatch on the California side but there are not too many fish feeding that time of day. Flows are: Town of Truckee, 209 CFS, Boca Bridge 469 CFS, Farad 504 CFS, Reno 256 CFS and Vista 91 CFS Ouch!

East Walker River

The East Walker is starting to get pretty tough. The flows are holding steady at 90 CFS on the California side but are down to 62 CFS on the Nevada side. It is imperative that you get there early and take a thermometer with you and quit fishing when the water reaches 70 degrees. This is sometime between 11:00 am and 12:00 pm. Fish are still looking up for big dry flies and it is still worth doing for better anglers. Approaching a run with a stealthy approach, wearing some clothing that resembles the landscape and taking your time will help. Dry dropper set-ups are a good way to go right now. Try a Hopper type pattern with a small nymph in size 18-20 as a dropper like a WD 40. The river should not be too busy so try and cover a lot of water. If you are fishing a big dry in the right type of water, you will usually get a grab in the first 4-6 casts so keep moving.

Little Truckee River

Flows dropped from 65 CFS to 47 CFs on July 14th. The water is much colder on the L.T. because it comes directly from the bottom of Stampede Reservoir. It is starting to get more and more technical. The PMD hatch is still going on but really on cloudy non windy days starting around 8:30-9:30 am. As the water gets lower it becomes harder and harder to fish sinking flies. It seems like you are always getting moss on your flies. You need to check them often if not every couple of casts. The fish are starting to stack up in the upper section of the river and there is plenty of fishing pressure here as well. You can get there early and beat the crowds for sure. Size 16-18 PMD nymphs, even smaller Midges and San Juan Worms are all a good way to go.

Frenchman’s Reservoir

The surface temperature at Frenchman’s is around 70 degrees in the morning and only goes up from there. The dry fly fishing first thing in the morning has been really good. Fish are up on the surface before the water warms up eating anything they can find. As the breeze starts to blow the fish start to head for deep water. Loco Ants fished on 4X tippet in the mornings is a great way to start. Deep Water indicator rigs with a Maholo Nymph and an Albino Wino fished in 12-18 feet of water is also working. Faster sinking lines will also work with a Sheep Creek Special or a small Wooly Bugger.

Davis Lake

Mornings are the way to go here as well. Fish will come into shallow water for just long enough to feed and then return to cooler deeper water. There are still some Damsels hatching but most of them show up too late in the morning. Damsel Flies fished with a Hover Line in 3-8 feet of water in the mornings is still working pretty well. After about 10:00 am then you need to fish deep with a deep water indicator system and a couple of Blood Midges.

July 8th

Truckee River

Heat and low flows have really put a damper on the Truckee River, especially on the lower stretches of California and all of Nevada. Water conservation has begun and the flows on the river have dropped considerably in the past two weeks. The best times to be on the water is early in the morning for sure. The water is cooler then and there are way less anglers, dog walkers, tubers etc. around. You can start any time after day break and fish up until about 11:00 am. This is usually the report given this time of year on the East Walker and the East Carson but the Truckee is going to really be affected by the drought this summer. The stretch between Boca Bridge and the Nevada state line has the most water and is in the best shape. There are plenty of Golden Stonefly husks on the rocks as you get lower on the river and Nymphing with a large Golden Stone and a smaller dropper like a Caddis is a great way to go. The fish are starting to key in on faster water where there is more oxygen. Fish seams and pools around white water where fish should be holding in these higher water temperatures. High Sticking without an indicator is the best method for this type of water. Indicators can pull your flies out of the pockets and create a lot of drag in your drift. There are still Caddis and Little Yellow Stones coming off in the evenings just before dark but there are far less fish feeding then due to the water temps. Flows are given with averages for this time of year in red. Town of Truckee 221 CFS (320 CFS) Boca Bridge 469 CFS (580 CFS) Farad 500 CFS (570 CFS) Reno 250 CFS (350 CFS) Vista 200 CFS (380 CFS).

East Walker River

Flows are 92 CFS (280 CFS avg.) This is still not too bad for the East Walker but water temperatures is a real concern going forward. Area air temperatures for this time of year are low in the mid 50’s and highs in the upper 80’s. These temperatures and the low water is really keeping water temps. up on the East Walker. The fishing has not been too bad but you need to get out really early and quit fishing early as well. You need to take a stream thermometer with you and do not fish when the water reaches 70 degrees sometime in late morning. Fish are still looking up for big attractor dries on the surface. There are plenty of hoppers around and not a lot of bugs in the water. Fish are getting more and more opportunistic. A stealthy approach and a good cast with a Stimulator type pattern can catch fish off guard be a lot of fun. Nymphing the deeper pools and faster water is also a good option. A good drift probably more important than the actual pattern. Get your flies down and get a good dead drift. Keep an eye on the flows before you go. If they get any lower it might be a good idea to let the river rest until late summer/early fall.

Davis Lake

The water is Davis and most of the area stillwaters is really getting warm. The best time to be on the water is early in the morning for sure. Fish still come into the shallows to feed but they will not stay longer than they need to. They are spending way more time in 12 feet plus of water where the water is much cooler. Deep Water indicator rigs are working really well. Umpqua’s Lake Leader is a great way to go right now. This leader allows you to fish nymphs and midges under an indicator is 10-20 feet of water with ease. The system has a braided leader and a break away indicator to help landing fish out of a float tube or pontoon boat. Maholo Nymphs and Midges are a great way to go with this set up just like at Pyramid Lake. The Albino Wino is an awesome Blood Midge pattern that is prolific at Davis Lake all year. There are plenty of area retailers including Fly Fishing Specialties in Sacramento, Mark Fore and Strike and Scheels in Reno and Tahoe Fly Fishing Outfitters in Lake Tahoe that have both the flies and the leaders.

Frenchman’s Reservoir

Frenchman’s might be a sleeper right now. The water is warm and low like a lot of other area stillwaters but it is a deeper lake and offers fish some opportunity to hide out in cooler water in the summer. One drawback this time of year is the water skiers and wake boarders but the North end of the lake is off limits to them. Fish can be seen working the shoreline in early mornings eating Callabaetis and Midges until there is a breeze on the water. After that the deep water Lake leader mentioned above is a great way to go at Frenchman’s. Try to key in on creek channels and areas where there is a drop off and you can get your flies into 12-15 plus feet of water. Snail patterns fished with a faster sinking line is also a great way to go at Frenchman’s. Get out there in the early morning and fish the first few hours of the day.

Little Truckee River

Flows are 65 CFs (100 CFS) and have been steady for over a week. There has been an awesome PMD hatch mid mornings and even a Green Drake or two as well. Nymphing with 5X or 6X tippet is a must with a size 16-18 PMD nymph or two. The conditions are really good for a dry dropper set up right now. Use a Green Drake dry and a PMD nymph dropper. Cloudy non windy days are your best bet for sure. The fishing is getting tougher every day and there are a lot of anglers on the Little Truckee due to the colder water and the conditions on the Truckee. The Little Truckee is a very technical fishery, especially with the pressure it gets this time of year. Fewer casts and better drifts with a purpose will catch way more fish here. As the water gets lower fish will tend to stack up in fewer deeper spots making it seem even more crowded with anglers.

June 24th

Pyramid Lake

With under a week to go in the season, things have come to a screeching halt. The water has gotten really warm and most of the fish have headed for deep water for the summer. Shore fishing with either a fly rod or spinning gear is really slow. Boaters still have a chance to catch some fish in deeper water but the problem is that bringing them out of 50 degree water into 70 plus degree water on the surface is very dangerous for the fish. It is time to put the ladders and the down riggers away and give the lake a rest until the fall opener on October 1st.

Davis Lake

The Damsel hatch continues to go strong. Some cooler weather over the past couple of weeks has kept the lake in great shape. The water temperatures are starting to get warm but we should have a couple more weeks before the summer heat slows the fishing until fall. In the early mornings fish can be seen sipping all kinds of bugs on the surface all over the lake as long as the wind is not blowing. Several patterns including Callabaetis dries, Loco Ants and blood Midge dries can be effective during this time. About 8:00 the Damsels start to come out of the mud and weeds and swim towards shore. Big Rainbows can be seen swarming the weed beds in search of Damsel nymphs for about 3 hours each day. The wind also plays a role and days with a light or no wind are the best. If it gets too strong the hatch seems to end but if you go a little deeper you can still get some grabs. Floating lines fished with long 4X leaders is a great way to start and then an intermediate type line for later in the morning. The afternoons tend to be pretty slow due to the warming water and then about 8:45pm the Hexagenia Mayflies start to hatch and for about a half an hour fish come crashing back to the surface for one last meal. This pattern could last until the 2nd week of July or so.

Truckee River

The Truckee River is in great shape! The flows continue to be perfect from Tahoe City all the way through Reno.

On the California side the fishing has been really good. The evening Caddis and Little Yellow Stone hatch has made its way all the way into the upper river. The water is lower from Tahoe City down to the confluence of the Little Truckee but this is normal. There is tons of water from Boca Bridge down to the state line. The higher elevations on the California side helps with water temperature and as the summer moves along the better fishing on the Truckee should continue to be in California. The Nevada side is also in great shape. The water is starting to get a little warm in the afternoons but this is also normal. There are also a ton of tubers on the Nevada side from around 12:00 pm until around 4:00 pm. The other issue on the Nevada side is the river has not been stocked since May 11th. Usually the Nevada side of the river provides some really good fishing for Beginners and kids and anglers who don’t get out much because it gets stocked every two to three weeks. That is not the case this year. The Truckee has a good population of wild fish but they are much harder to catch and good techniques and ability to get good drifts with the correct flies are a must. Nymphing in the mornings with Stoneflies, Caddis and Little Yellow Stone nymphs either with or without an indicator is a good way to go. In the evenings when the sun gets off the water look for fish to start to look up and feed during the Caddis hatch until dark. The California side of the river especially. Flows are: Town of Truckee 281 CFS, Boca Bridge 591 CFS, Farad 650 CFS, Reno 362 CFS and Vista 279 CFS.

Sawmill Lake

The lake continues to provide some great higher elevation Stillwater fishing. Fish are eating Callabaetis and Damsels in the late morning through midafternoon. There are also Carpenter ants, pine Beetles and Termites getting blown into the lake on windy days. This is an incredible place to hone your dry fly skills. For more information on how to book a trip at Sawmill call or email Rob Anderson at rob@bucketlistflyfishing.com or 775.742.1754

East Walker River

The flows are great at 98 CFS. The fishing has been outstanding. This is probably going to be short lived as the air and water temperatures continue to climb over the next month but it is in great shape now. Mornings are best and it is best to fish early and quit around lunch time when the water gets warm. Fish are looking up for big dries like Hoppers and Yellow Stones. Fish the seams near faster water and take a stealthy approach. Nymphing has also been really good. Small nymphs like Caddis and Midges.

Little Truckee River

Flows are 148 CFS. Great flows for this time of year. PMD’s have been hatching on most days starting late morning. There are still a Green Drake or two as well. Nymphing with PMD’s in size 16 and 18 is a great way to go. When you get the opportunity to throw a dry PMD’s are also the way to go. 5X or even 6X tippet is a must. The river is going to be crowded on most days as it always is this time of year. Give other anglers some space and try to stay out of the water as much as possible. The Little Truckee is a technical fishery and fewer good casts will always catch more fish.

June 17th

Pyramid Lake

The fishing season ends at Pyramid on June 30th. The water is really getting warm and the fish have really moved out into deeper water for the summer. There are still a few fish being caught but mostly by float tubers who are fishing in deeper water. There are also a few fish being caught from shore in areas with access to deeper water as well. Try to get yourself in 15-30 feet of water and get your flies near or on the bottom. Really fast sinking Shooting Heads are a must if fishing Wooly Buggers, Beetles or Minnow Patterns. Let your line sink for at least 30-40 seconds before starting your retrieve. Nymphs and Midges are really working well for anglers who can get them into deep water. Umpqua Feather Merchants Deep Water Lake Leader is the way to go for fishing in water over 10 feet deep with an indicator. This system allows you to hang your flies under an indicator in up to 20 feet of water. Mark Fore and Strike and Scheels in Reno have these set ups as well as Fly Fishing Specialties in Sacramento. Maholo Nymphs and Midges are a couple of great flies to try as well. Note: Keep an eye on the weather and be careful when float tubing at Pyramid. The wind can come up quick and make float tubing un-safe.

Truckee River

The fishing on the Truckee has been really good. The flows are in great shape from the Town of Truckee down through Reno. There are several hatches going on most days and the water temperatures have been holding steady. Reports on the summer flows on the river indicate that the river could get really low sometime in Mid-July. Now is the time to be out on the river and the next month should be awesome. The Caddis and Little Yellow Stonefly hatch is making its way up stream and bugs can be seen hatching on most of the river now in the evenings. There has also been some Green Drakes as well. The hatch usually starts as soon as the sun gets off the water up until dark. Size 16 Caddis dries are a great way to go for the dry fly fishing. For Nymphing, Green Drake or Golden Stone nymphs fished with a smaller dropper like a Caddis or a Little Yellow Stone is a great way to go. Make sure you use enough weight to get your flies down fast. A good dead drift is a must. Cover the water slowly and when you catch a fish try to spend more time in that type of water. Mornings and evenings are the best time to be on the water. Flows are: Town of Truckee 314 CFS, Boca Bridge 602 CFS, Farad 656 CFS, Reno 385 CFS and Vista 375 CFS.

Little Truckee River

Flows on the Little Truckee have dropped to 180 CFs and have been there for about a week. PMD’s have started to hatch late mornings and there has been some Green Drakes as well. The PMD hatch usually goes on for a month or so but the Green Drake hatch is short and can be over in a week or two. The flows are great and this would be a great time to fish the L.T. There is enough water in the river for fish to still be really spread out and this makes it a little easier to deal with the crowds. A stealthy approach is still a must and the anglers who make less casts and spend more time reading the water and looking for rising fish usually have more success. As flows get lower this becomes even more important. Nymphing is also worth a try or even a dry dropper with a Green Drake dry and a PMD dropper. Mid to late mornings to early afternoon is the best time to catch the hatch.

Davis Lake

The Damsel hatch is in full swing. Even though we are smack dab in the middle of it some days are better than others. Non windy mornings with some sun on the water really gets the hatch going and the fish feeding. There have been a few days of late with windy conditions and some cloud cover that have really slowed the hatch on those days. On sunny non windy days fish can be targeted in really shallow water around points and weed beds chasing Damsel nymphs with aggression. UN weighted Damsels fished with a floating line or a Hover line with a long 3X to 4X leader and one or two UN weighted size 12-14 Damsels is the way to go. Have a few different colors as the real bugs can change colors daily. The hatch has been around 9:00 am until around 12:30 pm. It should start and end earlier as we get closer to July. We still have a couple of weeks at least of a good hatch before the water gets too warm sometime in early July. There is also a pretty good Hexagenia Mayfly hatch just before dark but this hatch is also a little dependent on the weather. Calm evenings after a warm day is usually the best. Size 6-8 emerger patterns are the way to go as the bugs start hatching.

East Walker River

Flows are 76 CFS. The conditions are UN real right now. Flows are great, the water temperatures are hanging in there and the fish are very active. The dry fly fishing has been superb over the past few weeks. The Hoppers are out in force and the fish have been looking up for big dry flies. The best time to be on the water on the East Walker is in the mornings up until about lunch time. The water is starting to get warm in the afternoons. Dry dropper set-ups is the obvious choice right now but a lot of anglers are just fishing dries. There is enough action to take off the dropper and spend the day dry fly fishing. Orange or Yellow Stimulators are a good way to go. Foam Hopper patterns are also worth a try. Flow could drop any time so keep an eye out before you go.

June 3rd

Pyramid Lake

June and we are still catching fish at Pyramid. The Tui Chubs have shown up in the shallows around the lake and there are some really big fish chasing them. Warm or even hot weather is on the way and the great fishing we have had over the past month could end anytime. This is the time of year when we really start to use our floating devices and try to get out in a little deeper water. The water temps. are in the high 50’s and will be in the 60’s before long. This usually drives the bait and the fish into a little deeper water. There has been a tremendous Callabaetis hatch by mid-morning each day and there are also some fish really keying in on those as well. With so many other places to fish right now in the area, Pyramid has no pressure. Nymphing from a float tube or pontoon boat is a great way to go right now. Maholo Nymph’s and Midges fished with Umpqua’s Deep Water Indicator Leader is the way to go for indicator fishing in 10 plus feet of water at Pyramid or any other lake. Mark Fore and Strike in Reno and Fly Fishing Specialties in Sacramento has these leaders in stock among others currently. Stripping Minnow patterns on the bottom with a fast sinking shooting head has also been very effective of late. Some of the larger fish are really keying in on Minnows right now.

Truckee River

The flows on the Truckee are coming down fast in the past few days. The little run-off we have had is all but over. The flows are currently running close to normal below Boca Bridge all the way through Reno. The water is and will continue to be on the low side from Tahoe City down through the Town of Truckee. The evening hatches have really started to take off with the lower water and warmer weather. There are Caddis hatching from East of Reno all the way upstream to the state line. There are also some Little Yellow Stones starting to show. This is the time to get out on the water for the last hour and try to get some fish on the surface. Look for shadows blocking the sun from the trees on the water early in the evening. After the sun gets off the water then look for rising fish to cast to. Dry Caddis patterns in size 16 are the way to go. The Green Drake hatch could happen any time so look for bigger bugs coming off the water. Nymphing during the day with a Green Drake Nymph and a Caddis dropper is hard to beat right now. You can either do this with or without an indicator. Use plenty of weight to get your flies down fast. Flows are: Town of Truckee 263 CFS, Boca Bridge 591 CFS, Farad 656 CFS, Reno 461 CFS and Vista 581 CFS.

Little Truckee River

Flows are down to 193 CFS and dropping daily. It would not be out of the question to see them down to 50 CFS before long. PMD’s are starting to show up and will be more relevant in the weeks to come. As the water goes down on the Little Truckee the fish tend to move upstream. Look for fish to start to congregate in larger runs and pools and to start to look up for some PMD Mayflies. Nymphing with 5X-6X tippet and size 16-20 PMD’s and Midges are the way to go. It is going to be more important to be stealthy as the water goes down. The Little Truckee is a very technical stream and the anglers who make less casts and take their time catch the most fish. This is not a stream to spend the entire day pounding the water.

Davis Lake – We have two cancelations for next weeks outing if anyone is interested! June 13-15

Damsels are really starting to show. Lots of nymphs are in the system right now and the fish are really starting to key in on them. It is still a little early and most of the fish are still feeding in a little deeper water for the Damsels. Callabaetis are also around and fish can be seen eating them off the surface in the mornings before the wind picks up. There has been an awesome Blood Midge hatch in the evenings and maybe even a little frustrating at times to see all the fish eating them and ignoring your flies. Davis is only getting started and the next month should be awesome. Have a variety of Blood Midge Patterns, Damsels and Callabaetis in your box right now and be ready to change based on the conditions and time of day. Albino Wino’s with a Callabaetis or Damsel as a dropper fished under an indicator is an easy way to start.

East Walker River

Flows are: 48 CFS. The East has experienced several flow changes this week. This has seemed to take its toll on the fishing for the last few days and has made things a little tougher. Still the area to be fishing for the best results seems to be between the bridge and Murphy’s pond on the Cali side and both the Sceirine section and the Rosachi section of the Nevada side. There have been some poor reports along with some good reports from all sections of the river lately. It is going to be more and more important to fish the East Walker in the mornings and quit around lunch time as the summer wears on and the flows remain low. Take a thermometer with you and when the flows reach 70 degrees it is time to quit.

Sawmill Lake

The Callabaetis hatch has started but can still be light, especially on cooler days. There have also been some Ants and Beetles landing on the water and there has been some pretty good dry fly fishing. Deep Water indicator Nymphing with Callabaetis and Midges has been really good in 10-14 feet. Umpqua’s Deep Water Lake Leader is the way to go for this technique.

Lassen Meadows Ranch

The season is open and the fishing has been outstanding. Nymphing under an indicator with Callabaetis and Midges in 4-8 feet of water is hard to beat right now. Stripping Damsels and Callabaetis nymphs with a very slow sinking line has also been very effective. The Ranch should fish great until mid-July when it gets a break until September.

May 27th

Pyramid Lake

This has been one of the best late seasons at Pyramid in a long time. The water temperature is hanging in there for late May and that has really helped a ton. The water temps. are still in the upper 50’s to low 60’s in the shallows. There are some windy days ahead of us which help keep the temperatures down this time of year. We could get another few weeks of good fishing if this keeps up. A few days in the 90’s and no wind could also turn it around quickly. 20-30 fish days are not uncommon for anglers moving around and finding the right wind conditions and pods of fish. There is a strong Callabaetis hatch mid-day and that is also helping the fishing. Nymphing has been the most effective way to go for sure. Maholo Nymphs in Red, Black or Wine are a good bet to imitate the Callabaetis right now. Two fly rigs with the bottom fly fished close to the bottom and the upper fly about 2-3 feet up is a great way to go. There are plenty of places to get Maholo Nymphs if you are headed to Pyramid including Mark Fore and Strike in Reno, Keines Fly Shop in Sacramento and Scheels in Reno. The best places to fish this time of year are ones with less boat and Jet Ski traffic. Try going to the North or the South end of the lake to stay away from summer traffic. www.pyramidlakeflyfishing.com 775.742.1754

Truckee River

The river is in great shape for the end of May. The flows are still Yo-Yoing a bit but not enough to notice or really affect the fishing. The river is still a little high downstream of the Boca Bridge area due to some run-off and some releases out of Stampede for Pyramid Lake. Caddis are really starting to hatch in the evenings on the lower river and there have even been a few Little Yellow Stones. Normally the evening hatches start East of Reno and make their way upstream over a month or so into the upper stretches around the Town of Truckee. Normally the river is in full run-off mode and there is not much dry fly fishing in the early stages of the evening hatch but this year is totally different. The last hour or so before dark is worth a shot for sure. Nymphing during the day either with an indicator or “High Stick” style is always a good bet on the Truckee. Use enough weight to get your flies down fast. Two BB split shot and some flies with some weight is a must. Stoneflies and Caddis are a good bet for Nymphing and Elk Hair Caddis or something similar is hard to beat for the evening hatch. Flows are: Town of Truckee 233 CFS, Boca Bridge 665 CFS, Farad 761 CFS, Reno 583 CFS and Vista 738 CFS.

East Walker River

The flows have been bumped up to 93 CFS for a few days now. This is up from 35 CFS. Great news for the fish and the fishermen. The fishing was a little tough at the lower flows but they are perfect now. There are already some Grasshoppers starting to show and the fish are still keyed in on big attractor dries from the Stoneflies earlier in the spring. Dry dropper rigs are so much fun if fished correctly on the East Walker and now is a great time to do it. Use a big Ugly dry fly like a Stimulator or a foam hopper and tie on a piece of tippet about 2-3 feet in length and add a small nymph to the end. The #1 key is to use a dry fly large enough to hold up the dropper and a dropper that sinks fast enough to get down. The better you pull this off the better your success. The other way to go about it is to bring two rods or fish with a buddy. The first rod or angler goes into a run with a dry fly and makes 5-10 casts and then the other rod or fisherman comes in with a nymph rig. This is a great way to fish as a team.

Davis Lake

Davis has been pretty tough the last few days. There has been some wind to deal with but the fish seem to be transitioning a bit and waiting for the Damsels to start hatching. There is still a Blood Midge hatch going on in the mornings and evenings and also some Callabaetis around. The water temperatures are already in the low 60’s which is pretty high for late May. Look for the fishing at Davis to really pick up in the weeks to come. For now Blood Midges like the Albino Wino fished under an indicator in 4-12 feet of water is a good way to go and also Callabaetis nymphs and Snail patterns fished with an intermediate line in the same type of water.

Sawmill Lake

Sawmill is in great shape and finally really picked up over the past week. Warmer weather played a big part for sure. Midges and Callabaetis are hatching now and the fish are finally cruising the shallows looking for an easy meal. We have had some great dry fly days at Sawmill over the past week and it should only get better in the weeks to come.

May 7th

Pyramid Lake

The fishing continues to hang on at Pyramid. The water temperatures are around 56 degrees in the shallows and there are still plenty of fish cruising the shelves. Some larger Pilot Peak strain Cutthroats are starting to show up again and there have been some really big ones caught in the last week. This is the same pattern we saw last May. As the Summit Lake strain fish lose their urge to spawn and start heading for deeper water, the Pilot Peak strain seem to take their place in the shallows. Beaches with deeper drop-offs should start to produce more and more in the coming weeks and shallow areas will start to slow down. Weather is the number one factor on a good day at the lake for sure. It is becoming more and more important to fish on days when there is some wind. Nicer blue bird no wind days continue to get tougher and tougher. There is still some time to get out and catch some fish at Pyramid and this is a great time to get a really big one. Red and Wine Maholo nymphs are really starting to produce again for floating lines. There is some growth starting to happen on the bottom and foam Beetles and Tadpoles are a good choice for shooting heads.

Truckee River

The river is experiencing what little run off we will have this year but it is still really clear just a little high. It is fishable for sure. There have been some reports of Caddis already coming off on the lower river in The fishing continues to hang on at Pyramid. The water temperatures are around 56 degrees in the shallows and there are still plenty of fish cruising the shelves. Some larger Pilot Peak strain Cutthroats are starting to show up again and there have been some really big ones caught in the last week. This is the same pattern we saw last May. As the Summit Lake strain fish lose their urge to spawn and start heading for deeper water, the Pilot Peak strain seem to take their place in the shallows. Beaches with deeper drop-offs should start to produce more and more in the coming weeks and shallow areas will start to slow down. Weather is the number one factor on a good day at the lake for sure. It is becoming more and more important to fish on days when there is some wind. Nicer blue bird no wind days continue to get tougher and tougher. There is still some time to get out and catch some fish at Pyramid and this is a great time to get a really big one. Red and Wine Maholo nymphs are really starting to produce again for floating lines. There is some growth starting to happen on the bottom and foam Beetles and Tadpoles are a good choice for shooting heads.

weeks at least. This should be a fun spring on the Truckee with our evening hatches starting in fishable conditions. Nymphing with Baetis, Caddis and even some Little Yellow Stones is a good bet right now. Use a little more weight with the somewhat higher flows. This is a great time to throw some streamers around as well. Rainbows are coming off the spawning season and are pretty active and hungry. They will chase a streamer right now for sure. Keep an eye out for some bugs hatching on warmer evenings and especially if there is no wind. Be a little careful wading the water looks great but it is running pretty good downstream of Boca Bridge through Reno. Flows are: Town of Truckee 201 CFS, Boca Bridge 761 CFS, Farad 789, Reno 600 CFS and Vista 836 CFS.

Little Truckee River

Flows are 377 CFS. This is pretty high and typical for this time of year. Water is released out of Stampede to help the spawning of the Cui Ui in Pyramid Lake. The Little Truckee fishes way different then the flows are this high. Fish move out of the main current and hang out in slower water up against the bank and in places you don’t always look for them. It is a fun time to fish the Little Truckee because fish are spread out and the entire river can be fished. If you manage to hook one they fight like crazy in the higher water. Try Nymphing with Baetis and Midges or even a little larger fly like a Pheasant Tail or Hares Ear in size 14-18. Not much going on near the surface right now but as soon as the flows come back down this should change.

East Walker River

Flows are low and steady at 33 CFS. They have been there for over a week. The dry fly fishing has been great. Fish are looking up for Stoneflies in the larger pools and near fast water. Attractor dries in sizes 8-14 are a good bet for that. Dry dropper rigs are also working using a size 16-20 dropper under a buoyant dry like a foam hopper. This is a great time of year to fish with a buddy and go through a run with a big ugly dry fly and follow it up with a nymph rig either with or without an indicator. The flows are low so be stealthy and wear clothing that blends in with the terrain behind you. Unfortunately this year that will be more brown than green. Mid mornings are best but fish can be caught all day.

April 16th

Pyramid Lake

The spawning season is in full swing at the lake. The hatchery is full of Lahontan Cutthroat Trout and the Fisheries folks at the lake are working hard to make sure there are plenty of fish to put back into the lake for next season and beyond. When you see the efforts that are put in by members of the tribe and U.S fish and wildlife to ensure the future of Pyramid Lake you start to understand why it is important to treat these fish with the utmost respect.

Fishing has been really good over the past couple of weeks with a few tough days thrown in there as well. Weather plays a bigger and bigger role out at Pyramid as the spring goes on. Sunny Blue Bird days with no wind can create some tough conditions. The fish are cruising in really shallow water and can get spooked by ladders and fishermen, especially on crowded beaches. It can become really important to be aware of the situation and if fish are in really tight to the drop-offs back up 5 to 10 feet. This pattern has been the case at some of the more popular fishing spots like the nets and Pelican. If you are in an area where he fish are tight and there are fishermen too far out in the lake then it can be best to look for a spot on the beach with less anglers. This is a great time of year to take off the indicator and fish nymphs on a long leader and a Hover line. Albino Wino’s continue to be hard to beat for midges and Red and Wine colored Maholo Nymphs are still the way to go for nymph style flies. For shooting heads, Olive Martini’s and tan or chartreuse Beetles are working well.

Truckee River

The Truckee is experiencing some run off. It is going up and down about 100 CFS daily right now. It is a bit off colored but is still fishable for sure. There is probably not enough snowpack to put the Truckee down for too long. The slightly stained water has actually helped the fishing a bit. Nymphing with a Skwala Stone and a Baetis dropper has been working well. The dry fly activity has slowed a bit but it can still happen on a cloudy day. The Rainbows are all but done with the spawn, especially lower on the river. It is still a good idea to be careful wading around areas that look like good spawning habitat. The Nevada side of the river is getting stocked every two to three weeks and this has helped the fishing as well. Flows are fluctuating daily but are in these ranges. Town of Truckee 160-210 CFS, Boca Bridge 525-650, Farad 520-620 CFS, Reno 450-550 CFS and Vista 500 675 CFS.

East Walker River

Flows have dropped on the East Walker in the past few days from 40 CFS to 22 CFS. Bummer to say the least. The river was fishing great and the Big Ugly Dry Fly thing was happening. The flows could go back up any day for irrigation so keep a close eye on them. The fish will for sure wonder back into the deeper holes and runs and be more congregated. Dry dropper set-ups are still the way to go there is just less water to fish at these flows. A stealthy approach, light tippet and small flies fished under an attractor dry is a great way to start your day at the East Walker. Hopefully we see an increase in flows soon.

Davis Lake

Davis has been fishing pretty well. Blood Midges are out already hatching some in the mid mornings and also in the evenings. The fish are coming out of spawning mode and are starting to spread out. The water is already into the low 50’s and the campgrounds are going to be open soon. Warmer weather over the next week should really make Davis fish well. This is a great time of year to hang a blood midge under an indicator in 8-12 feet of water near drop offs and channels. Leach patterns fished with a type two sinking line is also worth a try.

Frenchman’s Reservoir

Frenchman’s is really low this year but the fishing has not been effected much. Most of the bays are dry and the places to target fish have moved out into the lake. Fish are willingly eating nymphs and midges under an indicator in 6-12 feet of water. They are in great shape for this time of year and fight hard. Midges have been hatching for some time now and we are starting to see some Callabaetis as well. The Campgrounds around Frenchman’s are set to open this week.

April 8th

Pyramid Lake

The lake has gone through some major changes in the last week. The water temperatures have gone from 44 degrees to 50 degrees in 6 days. There is some really off colored water on both the North end and the South end of the lake due to this. It appears that the lake wants to turn over soon. High pressure has dowsed the wind and made the fishing really tough over the last two days. It is really a good time right now to fish the first and last light until we get some more weather. The hatchery is packed with fish and the spawn is on. Fishing should be really good over the next month weather permitting. www.pyramidlakeflyfishing.com 775.742.1754

East Walker River

Flows have been 40 CFS for a while now. Skwala Stone flies are out in force and the big ugly dry fly thing is happening on the East Walker. This is the time of year that our area dry fly fishing is at its best. Look for water just outside the main current where fish can find food and stay out of hard water. Be stealthy and take your time approaching water. There are fish hanging out in shallow water all the time on the East Walker you just have to trust it. Enjoy the best time of year on the East Walker.

Middle Fork Feather River

The Middle Fork of the Feather River opened last Saturday from the a-23 bridge to the Mohawk Bridge. Water temperatures range from 48-52 degrees, a little cold and the fishing reflects that; Fair. Flows are near perfect. Deep Nymphing with or without an indicator is best with plenty of lead to get down. Effective flies have been Hare’s Ears, Lance’s X-May in olive, and Copper Johns. Small flies have been more productive. Look for conditions to improve with warming water.

Truckee River

Flows are starting to fluctuate due to whatever run off we are going to have. This could affect the fishing some over the next couple of weeks. The water is perfect right now and it should not take the fish long to accept the water going up and down a bit. Skwala Stones and Baetis continue to be the story on the Truckee, especially on the Nevada side. Nymphing is the way to go for numbers but you can get a fish or two to rise to dries right now as well. Flows are: Town of Truckee 169 CFS, Boca Bridge 504 CFS, Farad 519 CFS, Reno 435 CFS and Vista 504 CFS.

April 1st

Pyramid Lake

April is here and we are in the middle of the peak season at Pyramid Lake. Unsettled weather over the past few days has really helped the fishing. There have been a few days with some good onshore winds and some overcast that have resulted in some really good days. The fish are really spread out and there is not just one spot to find them. Fish the wind and try to pick a spot with the wind in your face. You can both move a lot to find fish or stay in one place and wait it out. The fish are really getting in good spawning shape and they are ready to do their thing. The water is still really cold for the first of April at around 44 degrees. It is supposed to get warm starting next week and the water temperatures should start to climb. Shooting head set ups are working well in the early mornings with Olive Martini’s, Midnight Cowboys and Pink and White Wollyworms. Nymphing either under an indicator or with a Hover line has also been picking up a lot of fish. Red Maholo Nymphs and Albino Wino Midges are hard to beat. Go to the beaches page at pyramidlakeflyfishing.com to get an idea of how deep to fish your flies under the indicator if you have not been out in a while or are unfamiliar with the lake. Mark Fore and Strike in Reno has a good stock of Pyramid Flies. www.pyramidlakeflyfishing.com

Truckee River

The water is pretty cold on the Truckee after a week or so of stormy cold weather. It has really slowed fishing especially on the California side of the river. The Nevada side is still fishing o.k. and there has been a pretty good Baetis hatch on some of these cloudy days lately. The wind has been somewhat of an issue and there have not been too many rising fish. Nymphing with a Skwala Stone and a Baetis dropper is still the way to go. No need to get on the water early right now as the afternoons have been the best. Some really warm weather is expected next week and it could really change things up. Flows are: Town of Truckee 129 CFS, Boca Bridge 396 CFS, Farad 436 CFS, Reno 392 CFS and Vista 450 CFS. www.renoflyfishingoutfitters.com

East Walker River

Flows on the East Walker have gone from 21 CFS to 40 CFS in the past couple of days. This has really helped the fishing and given the fish a little room to spread out. Skwalas are out and big ugly dry flies have been worth a try. 40 CFS is a great flow for dry dropper set-ups. Hang a Baetis Nymph under a Skwala Stone Fly and fish the edges and seems of the river. Don’t overlook the shallow water out of the main current. Nymphing has also been great but it is tough right now to not have a big dry fly on as much as fish have been looking up lately. Keep an eye on the flows before you go. www.renoflyfishingoutfitters.com

March 25

Pyramid Lake

This is the time of year that angler come from all over the West and even the Country to fish for Giant Lahontan Cutthroat Trout. March and April brings a little warmer weather and the migration of these fish into shallow water looking for a stream to splash their eggs into for a new generation of fish to begin their lives of the World’s largest Cutthroat Trout. The spawning channel at Pyramid Lake is the perfect place for this phenomenon to take place. Fish are geared up to run the artificial stream right now in search of the perfect place to lay their eggs. The Hatchery water is on but most of the fish are not quite ready to spawn. There are many beaches that fish are cruising the shallows and plenty of fish are being caught by shore fisherman. There have been some slow days and some really good days. Most of it is weather based. Stormy weather patterns over the next week or so should really help the fishing at Pyramid. We should be in a good fishing pattern for the next few weeks. Nymphing will be working well for the remainder of the season. Red, Wine and Black Maholo Nymphs continue to be a great choice for flies. The Albino Wino Midge is also a must have. Mark Fore and Strike, Keine’s Fly Shop, Orvis of Reno and California Fly Shop are all places to purchase these flies. Shooting Heads are also working well. Olive Martini’s and Bloody Marys have been tough to beat.

East Walker River

Tough water year for irrigators. West Walker irrigators to only receive 1.4% of normal water deliveries and East Walker irrigators will only get 9%. One must have water rights from 1872 or earlier to receive any water. East Walker has not been above 200cfs last two years and I would be surprised if it gets above 150cfs at any time this summer. A hot summer combined with low flows could spell trouble for the trout in the East Walker.

East Walker, Nevada side. Flows have been stable at 26cfs on Nevada side for a week. Not a lot of fish being caught, but quality is good.

Been getting 14-20 inch bows and browns high sticking nymphs with some smaller fish thrown in. We found fish in deeper runs in the morning. Fish would move into shallower feelings areas as the afternoon brought on the BWO hatch. Target anything over 6 inches deep at head of runs. Look for fish in pockets and buckets.

Late afternoon brings a BWO hatch that brings some fish to the surface. Target rising fish with small dries or try a Skawala imitation.

Davis Lake

There are fish thinking about the spawn still and others eating, east side has the highest populations but good reports are coming from Eagle Point on the west. Small black midges, blood midges are out. The usual flies are working, but smaller nymphs are getting more attention. Water temps 47-50 degrees. Everything will be stalled if snow hits the lake in the next week, and depending how much falls could dictate access as well.

March 18th

Pyramid Lake

It is that time of year again at Pyramid Lake. In the middle of March each year thousands of Lahontan Cutthroat Trout make their way into shallow water around the lakes shoreline in search of moving water. It is spawning season. Not only do the trout start their migration but so do anglers from all over the country. The next 6 weeks at Pyramid will undoubtedly the best and busiest place to fish in the area. We have a few trout of over 20 pounds that have been caught and lots of fish in the 10-20 pound range already this season. The numbers of fish caught is starting to go up as well. There have been a few 20-30 fish days and plenty of 10-20 fish days. You still have to look out for the occasional blue bird sunny no wind day here and there that makes the fishing tough. Nymphing rigs and shooting head set-ups are both working well. It is best to have both rigs set up and be ready to switch at any time. Fish are spread out all over the lake and can be caught from Popcorn Beach on the South end of the lake to Monument Rock on the North end. For the Nymphing rig Red or Wine colored Maholo Nymphs, Copper Tops and Albino Wino’s are working well for sure. Midnight Cowboy’s, Olive Martini’s and Popcorn Beetles are tough to beat fished on the bottom. Mark Fore and Strike and Orvis both have these flies locally in Reno. There is a new section on the beaches page, www.pyramidlakeflyfishing.com/fishing/beaches/ that helps out with depth to fish your flies under an indicator on most of the beaches at the lake. Contact Rob Anderson www.pyramidlakeflyfishing.com 775.742.1754

Truckee River

The Truckee is really starting to settle out after a few days last week of unsettled weather. The flows are great from the Boca Bridge area downstream through Reno. All indications is that we have enough water in the Truckee River basin to have average flows at least through July 15th. Then it could get pretty low if we do not see some more rain and snow this spring. The water is cold and clear. There have been some Baetis hatches from around noon till about 3:00 pm especially on the Nevada side of the river. Cloudy non windy days are usually the best for dry fly fishing but the fish are eating nymphs every day. We should start to see some Skwalas start to appear in the coming weeks. This is spawning time for the Rainbows in the river so be very careful when wading and leave spawning fish alone to do their thing. Flows are: Town of Truckee 105 CFS, Boca Bridge 382 CFS, Farad 418 CFS, Reno 420 CFS and Vista 458 CFS. Contact Reno Fly Fishing Outfitters 775.742.1754

East Walker River

Flows have dropped to 22 CFS and have been that way for about a week. Fish are back into winter mode hunkering down in the deeper slow moving pools. Flows are going to be an issue and worth keeping an eye on before you go to the East Walker for sure. The good news is that irrigation will not send the flows into big numbers this season and we should be able to fish the East Fork all the way into summer. The bad news is this summer could be fatal to the fish population if they are not able to keep the flows up a bit and avoid over heating the fish as the weather gets hot in the Bridgeport area. We could see some Stones any day and there are plenty of small bugs out and about. Nymphing has been the way to go but keep your eye out for rising fish on the California side especially. Small nymphs fished on light tippet is a good way to start. Make sure you have a stealthy approach as well. Contact Reno Fly Fishing Outfitters 775.74.1754

Davis Lake

Davis has been fishing well. It seems as though things are happening a little early this year at Davis. Blood Midges have been hatching mid to late mornings already. Fishing small flies under an indicator or stripped slowly with a hover line or an intermediate line has been working well. Blood Midge patterns in size 12-14 as the bottom fly is a great way to start. The Albino Wino that we use at Pyramid Lake is a great Blood Midge imitation. Fish are wandering around in the coves looking for moving water in the creeks. Try fishing shallow Creek Channels in the lake in about 6-12 feet of water. Contact Reno Fly Fishing Outfitters 775.742.1754

March 5th

Pyramid Lake

The lake continues to fish well. Summit Lake strain Lahontan’s are starting to move in to some of the popular beaches looking for moving water for their annual spawn. The water temperature is starting to climb out of its winter lows and the fish can sense the beginning of spring conditions at the lake. If this year is anything like last the shift is on to a few more fish being caught and without a doubt more Summit Lake Strain fish over the next month. The beauty of having two strains of Lahontan’s in the lake now is that they are showing up at different times of the year. The Pilot Peak Strain is a great addition to making our fishing season better at Pyramid and last much longer. The Summit Lake strain is more likely to school up and run the shallows in the spring months when we see an increase in angler days in March and April and when it seems to become more difficult to catch some of the larger Pilot Peak Cutty’s. Another year of fishing for this new amazing fish will undoubtedly reveal more about what they are all about. The best times to fish still remain to be days with chop on the water. 10-20 fish days are happening already and you just have to be there on the right day with the right weather at the right time. Nymphing continues to produce the most fish. Red and Wine colored Maholo Nymphs fished either under an indicator or stripped slowly with a hover line is hard to beat along with the Albino Wino. For the shooting Head set-up Olive Martini’s and Bloody Mary Wooly Buggers are working well.

Truckee River

Flows on the Truckee continue to be low through the town of Truckee down to Boca Bridge and then are outstanding through Reno. The water is very clear and cold. There has been an awesome Baetis hatch East of Reno especially on cloudy days. The weather is starting to warm and we could see more and more bugs over the next month. Run-off should not be an issue in March or April and the early season fishing should be outstanding. Nymphing with a Skwala Stone and a Baetis dropper either under an indicator or “High Sticking” is a great way to go. The water is a little higher right now than in weeks past so make sure you use a little more weight. The Department of Wildlife in Nevada has already started stocking the Truckee due to the possibility of warm low water in the summer. Flows are: Town of Truckee 179 CFS, Boca Bridge 429 CFS, Farad 436 CFS, Reno 424 CFS and Vista (East of Reno) 484 CFS.

East Walker River

Flows are at 49 CFS. They really spiked on March 3rd to 80 CFS and now back down to 49 CFS. What water there is for irrigation can change the flows anytime now. It should not be a problem for fishing this season but the lower flows could affect the summer months and the water temperatures in July and August. 49 CFS for now is great. The Skwalas are starting to show sub surface and Nymphing with a smaller Stonefly and a dropper like a Baetis, Midge or San Juan Worm is a great way to go. Usually we say the best days to go are when the flows stay the same for a few days. When the flows only spike 60 CFS it is not usually an issue. The East Walker is a great place to go right now. Fish the slower, larger pools and approach slowly and look for rising fish. Check the flows before you go just in case.

Davis Lake

The lake is totally ice free. The fish have started to congregate in the arms of creek beds and looking for a place to spawn. There is no water in the creek channels and fish are going to have a hard time spending any time at all spawning locally. The heads of the Channels in deeper water has been the place to go so far. Fishing Nymphs and Midges under an indicator in 8-20 feet of water has been working well. The fish are only going to get hotter in the coming weeks. The roads around the lake are open right now with no issues of snow.

February 25th

Pyramid Lake

The lake continues to pump out some big fish. There have been some tough days and some good days and that should continue right through the middle of May. The water is starting to warm a little with the warmer weather we have had. It is still around 44-45 degrees unless you are fishing in the shallows where it can reach 47 degrees. The beaches that offer access to deeper water have still been fishing the best but the fish are really spread out and can be caught all over the lake. Follow the wind on calmer days. There are already some female Summit Lake fish with eggs and the spawn is just around the corner. Red Maholo Nymphs and Albino Midges have been working well for the indicator rigs and Midnight Cowboys and Popcorn Beetles for the shooting head set ups. Locally in town Mark Fore and Strike has a great assortment of these flies at great prices. Go to pyramidlakeflyfishing.com for more info.

Truckee River

The river has been fishing great. One of the short term positives of no snow is access is not a problem on the river. Blue Wing Olives have been hatching in force the last few days. For some reason there are not many fish eating on the surface even during the hatch. Nymphing with Baetis and Midge patterns have been working well. The water is really low in the Upper California stretches and in West Reno but East of Reno and the Lower California stretches hare just about perfect. Looks like we are in for some more weather over the next week so keep an eye on the flows. If we get some cloudy days on the Nevada side it could be awesome. Flows are Town of Truckee 121 CFS, Boca Bridge 351 CFS, Farad 372 CFS, Reno 322 CFS and Vista (East of Reno) 379 CFS.

East Walker River

Flows on the East Walker are really low at 22 CFS. This is normal for this time of year. The air temperatures in the area have not been too cold and the fishing has been o.k. Most of the fish are stacked up in the deeper pools and runs which is common for lower flows. There has been a Baetis hatch as well as Midges. Everything seems to happening early this year and the Skwalas could be just around the corner. The best fishing times are late morning to late afternoon right now. Nymphing with Baetis and Midges has been producing the most fish. There are some rising fish on cloudy days late morning. Approach new spots slowly and wear clothing that conceals your outline a little better. With the flows this low the fish can pick you out pretty quickly.

Davis Lake

Fish are starting to congregate around the creek channels already. The biggest problem is there is really no water coming into the lake and there will probably be no spawn this spring due to no snowpack in the area. Be careful when fishing these areas because fish will be stacked up trying to find moving water. The best places to fish are on the outside of the creek channel arms where fish are roaming a bit more. Midges, Wooly Buggers and Leaches are all worth a try on an intermediate line.

February 12th

Pyramid Lake

Pyramid continues to spit out some big fish. There are plenty of slow days out there about twice a week the fishing is pretty good. That is normal this time of year with the water temperatures around 43 degrees and the weather changing daily. This past weekend saw some 70 mile an hour wind events on Friday and Saturday and the fishing was really tough. Sunday the wind calmed down and the fishing was way better. There are not too many secrets this time of year. The beaches with some access to deeper water are normally doing a little better. On calm days fish the windy part of the lake. There is the 2nd weekend of a tournament this weekend so the normal hot spots should be crowded. There are plenty of places on the lake that are completely empty of anglers. Nymphing, Jigging and stripping Wooly’s and leaches are all worth a shot. If you are coming from out of town plan a couple of days on the lake to have a better chance at getting the weather right. Red Maholo Nymphs have been really good as are Albino Wino’s and Copper Top’s. For Shooting Heads try Olive Martini’s and Bloody Marys. Any day you get out to Pyramid you could catch the fish of a lifetime.

Truckee River

The storm we had last weekend has the flows really high on the river and also off colored. We needed the rain and snow but short term it has left the Truckee pretty much UN fishable. Now the storm is gone butt we are experiencing some really warm weather. The snow melt should continue to keep the flows up on the river for at least the next few days. Once the flows settle the fishing should get back to being pretty good as it was before the storm. There has been a Baetis hatch and some Winter Stones on parts of the river. Nymphing is the way to go most of the time on the river but the winter dry fly fishing can be a blast. Keep an eye on the flows before you head out over the next few days. Flows are: Town of Truckee 162 CFS, Boca Bridge 396 CFS, Farad 436 CFS, Reno 509 CFS and Vista 592 CFS.

East Walker River

Flows are down to 20 CFS on the East Walker. The air temps. are pretty warm and ice has not been too much of a problem. The flows are down to try to keep some water storage for the summer. As long as the air temperatures stay warmer the flows are going to stay low until the spring. The fish will be in the deeper runs and pools. There are some smaller bugs hatching late morning especially on the California side of the river. We are expecting some really nice winter weather over the next week and it could be a really good time to give the East Walker a try. Small nymphs like Baetis and Midges are a good bet.

February 4th

Pyramid Lake

January at Pyramid was about as good as could be expected. The water is cold at its normal wintertime lows of 42-43 degrees but there have been some really big fish hanging around and feeding all winter. The numbers of fish are down which can be expected this time of year but when or if you catch a fish it has the potential to be huge. There have been lots of fish caught between 10 and 20 pounds over the past month. The beaches with access to deeper water continue to be the hot spots. Places like Blockhouse, Sand hole and other areas on the South end of the lake have been pretty good. It looks like we are in for some weather over the next couple of weeks and that should help the fishing out as well. The best days have been when we get some wind and some chop on the water. There have been some really good early mornings and late evenings but it is really cold out there so dress warm.

Nymphing in 9-20 feet of water with Red, Wine or Black Maholo Nymphs has been working well. Stripping Wooly buggers and Beetles in deeper water with a fast sinking shooting head is also the way to go. Olive Martini’s, Bloody Mary’s, and Loco Beetles and Tadpoles are great choices.

Truckee River

The lower river East of Reno has been fishing pretty well. Just like any January the weather has a lot to do with the fishing. It looks like we are in for some colder temperatures over the next week or so and that could slow the fishing some. The best days are overcast and when we can get the temperatures up around 50 degrees. There has been some blue Wing Olives hatching on most days as long as the wind doesn’t blow too hard. The flows are really low and the water is very clear on the river right now. Use a little more stealth and approach holes and runs a little slower and try to look for feeding fish before jumping right in. The Lower California side is also fishing O.K. and access is not a problem with little or no snowpack around the river. Nymphing with Baetis, small dark Stones and Midges is your best bet right now. Flows are Town of Truckee 78 CFS, Boca Bridge 234 CFS, Farad 258 CFS, Reno 261 CFS, Vista 300 CFS.

East Walker River

Flows are 30 CFS. There is a little ice around the edges of the river and the overnight lows in the area have been really cold. Translation is take your time getting down there and fish later in the day when it has a chance to warm up a bit. The flows are low and the fish are holding in the deeper holes and runs. Small nymphs like Baetis and Midges have been doing the best. Keep an eye on the weather over the next week. The cold air we are expecting could add to the ice on the river over the next week or so. Travel in the area could also be tough with some snow expected soon.

Davis Lake

The lake is almost completely open and free of ice. There were a few anglers out and about after our last week’s report and a few fish caught as well. The East side of the lake is plowed and totally accessible. Fish tend to hang out in the coves this time of year in some deeper water. The conditions could change rapidly this week with some unsettled weather on the way over the next week or so.

January 21st

Pyramid Lake

Fishing has really slowed down at the lake. This is pretty common for this time of year. The water is very cold at 41-43 degrees. There has not been much wind at the lake lately and the thermoclines are building up and sending fish into deeper warmer water. There are still some big fish being caught over the past week including a fish over 20 pounds and one in the 15 pound range. Both fish were caught from float tubes in 20-30 feet of water. Shore fishing has been pretty slow all over the lake except for first thing in the morning and after the sun gets off the water in the evening. The lake really needs some weather to churn up the water and mix some of the cold and warmer water again. Maholo nymphs and midges are still working for Nymphing and Bloody Marys, Olive Martini’s and Loco Beetles and Tadpoles with fast sinking lines. The fishing should continue to be about how it is for the next couple of weeks unless we get a storm or two.

Truckee River

Flows are way down due to a really dry winter and drought conditions in the Truckee River basin. There is not much ice around the edges right now and the wading is about as easy as it gets. The water is cold and clear and a stealthy approach is a must right now. There is a lot less holding areas for the fish and the deepest holes with some slower water is where most of the action is. We have had some warmer weather over the past week and the fish have responded some. The afternoons have been the best when the sun has a chance to warm the water a degree or two. Baetis and Midges continue to be the main food source for the fish right now and Nymphing either “High Stick” style or with an indicator has been producing the most fish. There has been the occasional fish eating dries East of Reno but it is the exception to the rule for the most part. A really good dead drift is very important right now with the lower slower water. Flows are Town of Truckee 60 CFS, Boca Bridge 209 CFS, Farad 231 CFS and Reno 250 CFS.

East Walker River

Conditions are tough on the East Walker. Ice and slush in water until 11am. After 2pm the river gets murky and full of vegetation from the shore ice melting, tough to keep hooks clean of vegetation. Lots of midges on water, but few fish rising. Best bet is Nymphing with small midge patterns, Baetis and San Juan worms. Flows are 30cfs and water temperatures start in mid-30’s in morning and rise to upper 30’s and low 40’s by early afternoon. Flows are 30 CFS.

Davis Lake

The lake is almost ice free! The roads are in good shape with no snow in the area and most of the lake is accessible. The fishing has been slow and the water is still really cold. Nymphing in 8-16 feet of water with Blood Midges is about the best bet right now. Fish in the middle of the day when the water may be a little warmer. Slow stripping Damsels in 8-16 feet of water is also worth a try if you are going to head out to Davis.

December 2nd

Pyramid Lake

Wow! What a fall at Pyramid. This has been the best fall fishing out at the lake in recent history. The new strain of Lahontan Cutthroat Trout continue to grow and offer anglers the chance to catch a fish of a lifetime. Several fish over 20 pounds and a couple in the 25 pound class have been caught over the past month or so. Lots of fish in the 10-20 pound range have also been caught. There are several beaches that continue to produce fish but the fish are really spread out. Spots with access to deep water have been the best places so far. www.pyramidlakeflyfishing.com/fishing/beaches lays out the variety of spots to try at the lake and the ones that have access to deep water. All sorts of techniques have been working. Shooting head set-ups with Midnight Cowboys, Bloody Mary’s and Olive Martinis have been working well. Dropper flies like white Wooly Buggers and Chartreuse Loco Beetles are also worth a try. Nymphing has also been catching fish. An estimated 24 pound fish was caught last week on a size 12 Black Maholo Nymph. Albino Wino Midges are also doing well.

There is a bunch of really cold weather headed our way and the water temperatures are bound to plummet. This could change the fishing conditions and drive fish into deeper water sometime soon. It should remain pretty good for a while however if you can handle the cold. Fish have been biting seemingly any time of day so as the cold weather sets in it might be a good idea to get a little later start.

Truckee River

Flows on the Truckee remain excellent. The river is closed from Tahoe City down to the Town of Truckee until the last Saturday of April. The flows are a little low from Truckee down to the Boca Bridge area but they are really good down stream of that. The Nevada side of the River is in the best shape right now especially with the cold weather we are expecting over the next week or more. The middle of the day is the time to be on the water right now with the shorter days and cooler water temps. There has been somewhat of a Baetis hatch on the lower river but for the most part Nymphing with smaller flies and lighter tippet has been the way to go. These flows are perfect for practicing short line Nymphing and High Sticking techniques.

Keep an eye on the river over the next week, there could be some anchor ice forming around the edges and floating ice in the river due to some extremely cold weather. This may put a damper on the fishing for a while on the Truckee. Flows are Town of Truckee 135 CFS, Boca Bridge 364 CFS, Farad 377 CFS and Reno 349 CFS.

East Walker River

Flows on the East Walker River are down to 35 CFS. The cold temperatures in the Bridgeport area are probably going to shut down the East Walker for a while. It gets really icy in these conditions and very difficult to fish. You may have a day or two before the conditions change but expect anchor ice to take form and the river to be nearly un-fishable.

October 8th

Pyramid Lake

Opening Day at Pyramid was as good as it has been for several years now. There were some really good reports of anglers catching 10-15 fish. The good fishing has continued for most of the first week. It is really important to find schools of bait near shore this time of year to have the best chances. Minnow patterns fished with a fast sinking shooting head that sinks 6-8 inches a second on beaches that offer chances to get your flies into 15-25 feet of water are your best areas to try. There are not too many spots around the lake that shore fishermen can do this but those types of beaches were awesome on the opener. The beaches page on www.pyramidlakeflyfishing.com does a great job of explaining which areas offer access to deeper water around the lake. The fishing should only get better as the water cools and fish creep into the shallows over the next month. Midnight Cowboys, Olive Martini’s, Bullet Head Streamers and just about any minnow imitation in size 2-6 is worth a try.

The best story of opening day goes to Lauren Dunn of Truckee who caught and released the new Junior Female World Record Lahontan Cutthroat Trout. This is a category for anglers under the age of 17. The fish was Lauren’s first fish of the day and weighed slightly over 9 pounds. Congratulations to Lauren! Go tohttp://pyramidlakeflyfishing.com/2013/10/03/new-world-record-lahontan/ to see the story.

Truckee River

October is here and the Truckee is fishing great. We have had some really cool weather and even a little snow in the mountains around the Town of Truckee. Water temperatures have come way down and are in the mid 40’s on the upper river and the mid 50’s around Reno. Fish are on the feed and have been really aggressive lately. The water is pretty low on most of the river. Most of the water in the Truckee was coming directly from Lake Tahoe all summer but now the flows on the upper river are below 100 CFS and there is a lot more water coming out of Boca Reservoir. The stretch of water between Boca Bridge and the Nevada state line is in the best shape it’s been in all year right now and East of Reno is also in Great shape. There is about 100 CFS coming back into the river down there and it is making the flows perfect on the lower river. The irrigation ditches have been shut off for the winter and it is helping the flows some as well.

Good technique is really important on the Truckee but is paramount in low clear water like we have right now. Nymphing under an indicator or “High Sticking” style are both great ways to go. The fish are really spread out and can be found just about anywhere. These flows are great for wading and getting around but it is much easier to spook fish. Take your time cover a lot of water and set the hook on everything. Two fly rigs with an October Caddis or large Scud type pattern (Czech Nymph) in size 6-10 as a lead fly and a smaller Baetis dropper in size 16-18 is a great way to start. Streamers are also worth a try right now as the Brown Trout are getting more aggressive by the day. Flows are Town of Truckee 76 CFS, Boca Bridge 368 CFS, Farad 415 CFS Reno 363 and Vista (East of Town) 351 CFS.

Little Truckee River

Current flow is at 43cfs. Nice hatches of Baetis and Caddis throughout the day. They are still super spooky and a long leader with fine tippet is a must. The Kokanee and Browns have started to move up from Boca into the Little Truckee for the fall spawn. Be careful wading this time of year and stay out of the water as much as possible. These fish lay eggs in the gravel beds in the river and it is important to the future of the fishery for the cycle to take place. There is still quite a bit of moss on the bottom and breaking free and drifting down stream. It is really important to check your flies often and to make sure they are clean. Dry flies can also get moss on them from time to time so keep an eye out and have plenty of floatant with you.

East Walker River

The flows have been shut down to save water for the upcoming year. They are running at 27 CFS and will probably stay in that range for the rest of the fall, winter and into spring. The fish are active and the reports have been pretty good. There is even still some attractor dry fly fishing going on. Dry Dropper set-ups are the way to go right now or you can fish with two rods. One rigged with a Hopper pattern and one with a different dry and a small dropper like a San Juan Worm, Baetis nymph or some kind of a Midge pattern. Wear bland clothing to match the surrounding area and use a stealthy approach when approaching a new area. Fish can be anywhere right now and spooking fish out of shallow water is not uncommon. 5X and 6X tippet are a must.

Davis Lake

Davis is in great shape for the most part right now. The only issue is the boat ramps and camping has been shut down due to the Government thing. Most avid anglers have been ignoring the shut down and have still been accessing the lake and doing very well. There are bunches of fish cruising the shoreline and the lake can be accessed very easily from the shore or in a tube or pontoon boat that does not require the use of the boat ramp and is still legal. Wiggle Tails and Leach patterns fished with an intermediate line has been working very well. Sight fishing in shallow water with small nymphs and a floating line has been great if you have the patience to do it. Blood Midges and Callabaetis nymphs fished under an indicator in 4-8 feet of water is also producing.

Frenchman’s Reservoir

The fall fishing at Frenchman’s has been excellent. After a really tough spring it is kind of surprising that the fishing now has been so good. Nice sized Rainbows are gorging on snails and getting ready for the winter freeze. Sheep Creek Specials fished with either an intermediate line or a sink tip line in 4 to 8 feet of water is a great way to start. Fish are also eating Maholo nymphs and Midges fished 4-6 feet down under an indicator. The same shut down applies to the camp grounds and the boat ramp at Frenchman’s.

September 3rd

Truckee River

Flows continue to remain close to the way they have been almost all summer. This was predicted in OUR spring drought forecast put out by NOAA in March. Changes are on the horizon with fall and the end of irrigation season right around the corner. For now the water temperatures are coming down and are not a factor anymore. The only section of the river that could still be somewhat of an issue would be way downstream east of town but the flows have come up in that section and have given the lower river a nice boost in flows over the past week will really help the water temperatures down there.

There are no where as many people using the river anymore. School is back in and the tubers are all but gone. There is still a bit of rafting going on from Boca Bridge downstream but not that much. The fishing is already getting better from Truckee down through Reno. Cooler water temperatures, shorter days and fish preparing for winter are also a big help in the recent reports getting better and better. The mornings are still the best time to be on the water but we are approaching the time when it can be good any time of the day. There are still not too many bugs out and about but the fish are pretty opportunistic right now and a good presentation is the most important thing. Dead drifting nymphs either under an indicator or “High Sticking” is a good way to go. Fish are starting to chase streamers a little more but you have to cover a lot more water. The Truckee should only get better and better over the next few weeks. For Nymphing try; Crayfish, Stoneflies and October Caddis in sizes 6-10 as a lead fly and a variety of droppers such as Pheasant Tails, Copper Johns and Hares Ears in size 16 is a good way to start. Flows are: Town of Truckee 362 CFS, Boca Bridge 469 CFS, Farad 503 CFS, Reno 277 CFS and Vista (East of Town) 323 CFS.

East Walker River

Flows are at 84 CFS which is up from a low of 40 CFS a week ago. Look for flows to start to drop over the next few weeks as irrigation season comes to an end and water storage for next season begins. There could be plenty of fluctuations between now and mid October as farmers call for their last rights to water for the season. The fluctuations in flows are the only thing slowing the fishing down on the East Walker right now. Average overnight lows in the Bridgeport area for this time of year are in the low 30’s. It has been a bit warmer than that and the short term forecast is lows in the mid 40’s and daytime highs in the mid 70’s. This is about as good as it gets on the East Walker. The next few weeks should be awesome down there, especially if you can get a day or two when the flows don’t fluctuate too badly.

Fish are still looking up for big dries, especially on the Nevada side. Hopper Dropper rigs are still a good way to go. Even better take two rods or fish with a buddy and rig up one rod with an attractor dry like a Hopper or a Stimulator in sizes 6-12. (You can try a lot of different stuff for this) Rig up the other rod with either a streamer or a nymph rig. Approach an area slowly and fish the edges, shallows and seems with the dry fly. Don’t overdo it. 10-15 good casts are plenty in any one run. Then come back through with your other set up and fish the entire run. This is a great way to fish with a buddy. Keep your streamers on the small side like a 6-12 and use a little weight or a bead/cone head. For nymphs smaller flies also seem to be working better. Caddis, Baetis, Midges and San Juan worms in 16-20 have been working well.

Little Truckee River

Flows on the Little Truckee are down to 26 CFS. Normally as fall sets in and it becomes important to hold water in Stampede Reservoir the flows drop fast. As expected it happened early this year. 26 CFS is an extremely low flow on the Little Truckee and it could stay this way through the entire fall season. The grass and moss on the bottom of the river is starting to die off and fall apart as cooler weather sets in. This makes it very hard to fish with any kind of sinking flies and it even gets on dry flies occasionally. The fish are going to have to start to head for the larger pools that hold more water. This means more pressure in less holding water. There are fewer anglers fishing the Little Truckee due to the tough fishing conditions and time of year. If you are going to fish the Little Truckee in the coming weeks try Nymphing with only one fly either under a dry fly or a very camouflaged indicator. Don’t fish your flies as deep as normal and check them often for grass and moss. If you are dry fly fishing you also need to keep an eye on your flies for grass or moss. Make sure they are riding high and having dry shake with you is a must. There are not too many fish rising but you can find one or two if you look hard. Wear natural colored clothing and take your time. It is not necessarily important to get there early for the fishing but you may not find a good spot if you don’t, especially in the top parking lot where there usually will be many more fish and anglers at these flows.

Davis Lake

Davis is already starting to fish o.k. Water temps are falling and are already in the low 60’s. This should be a great fall at Davis Lake. As days get shorter fish start to get really aggressive and fatten up for the winter. We had a pretty warm summer in the Portola area and the water got really warm this summer. Recent reports indicate that the fish survived the summer well. Fishing Nymphs and Midges under an indicator in 6-12 feet of water has been producing some fish over the past week. This is a great time of year to fish small Woolybuggers and Leaches with a variety of sinking lines. Rust, Orange and Olive are great colors to try. Vary your retrieves and your water depth and when you get a strike remember what you were doing. Try to keep a slight bend in your rod as takes can be veracious. Look for reports to get better and better over the next few weeks.

Frenchman’s Reservoir

This has been a tough year so far at Frenchman’s. Low water has had a lot to do with a slower than average year. Spots where we were fishing last year are dry now. The anglers and the fish have had to find new water to fish and hang out respectively. The good news is the fishing is really starting to pick up. Cooler water and shorter days have the fish starting to get active already. Some really nice fish have been caught lately and the size seems to be above average. Sheep Creek Specials or other Snail patterns fished on an intermediate or sink tip line has been doing well. Fishing Nymphs and Midges under an indicator is always a good way to fish at Frenchman’s. Leech patterns fished on a faster sinking line are also worth a try. It looks as if we are going to have some pretty good fishing this fall it Frenchman’s.

Pyramid Lake

Opens to Trout Fishing October 1st. This is going to be an interesting and hopefully another great year at Pyramid. We now have two sustainable strains of Lahontan Cutthroat Trout in the Lake. The Summit Lake strain which has been the main strain in the lake for the last 20 years or more and the Pilot Peak Strain which was introduced back into the lake in 2006-2007. Both strains of fish play an important role in the fishing at Pyramid Lake. We are still learning a lot about the Pilot Peak strain and some of what we think we know is based on only a few years of experience catching these fish. There is much more recent history with the Summit Lake strain.

In years past most of the Summit Lake Cutthroats are still in deeper water on opening day. It has a lot to do with water temperatures. The boaters usually do very well in October catching these fish in 20-40 feet of water or more. Trolling is a great way to fish this time of year. Shore fishermen usually try to fish near fast drop-offs where deeper water can be accessed. Looking for Tui Chubs and Perch Fry are also important to finding fish. As the fall wears on and water temperatures drop more and more fish can be caught from shore in more like 8-15 feet of water. The fish can be really spread out and moving around is important to finding fish. This should be very close to how the fishing goes for the Summit Lake strain of Lahontan Cutthroats again this fall.

It is going to be interesting and fun to experience another year with the new Pilot Peak strain which is believed to be as close to the original strain of Lahontan Cutthroat Trout that used to roam the lake 100 years ago. These fish do not act like the Summit Lake strain. They are more aggressive, tend to grow faster and may even live longer. They also seem to hang out in different water. Last spring after most of the Summit Lake fish were out in deep water and the hatchery was shut down a large school of Pilot Peak fish showed up in shallow water and there were a few weeks of excellent fishing in May and June because of it. These fish seem to spend a lot more time chasing Tui Chubs and smaller Trout and will move in and out with the schools of bait. There are usually more Tui Chubs near shore in the fall so there may be some really big fish close enough for shore fishermen to catch as early as Opening day. We still have a lot to learn about these fish and what the future holds for the largest Cutthroats on the Planet. www.pyramidlakeflyfishing.com 775.742.1754

August 13th

It looks like we are in for some more hot weather in the Reno-Tahoe area for the next week or so. There is also some smoke coming over from a pretty big fire in Auburn. The biggest difference in now compared to a month ago is the days are shorter and we are getting some much lower night time temperatures. The water temperatures are slowly dropping despite highs in the mid 90’s around Reno. We have had some overnight lows around Lake Tahoe in the mid 30’s already. It is still wet wading weather even on the Little Truckee. If you enjoy getting in the water without waders make some time to fish sometime soon.

Truckee River

The flows continue to be consistent with our reports over the last couple of months. Most of the water in the Truckee is still coming out of Lake Tahoe and not so much the other tributaries of the Truckee. What that means is there is more water in the upper stretches of the Truckee between Tahoe City and Boca Bridge. Then it levels out until you get to the state line and then gets really low once irrigation water is taken out on the Nevada side. The water temperatures are not so much of an issue in California anymore but are still a problem in Nevada.

Crayfish are one of the main food sources for fish in the Truckee right now. August is usually when the crayfish molt, become soft shelled and become a viable food source for fish in a month when there is not much bug activity in the river. Nymphing with a Crayfish pattern with a smaller dropper is a great way to fish the Truckee right now. The water still is low in oxygen, especially in Nevada and the heads of pools and faster water seem to be holding most of the fish. There is no dry fly activity on the Truckee right now except for maybe near Tahoe City in the late evenings. Streamer fishing can produce but you have to cover a lot of water. The best times to fish continue to be from early morning to lunch time, after that the water gets warm and the fish get really lethargic. Flows are Town of Truckee 349 CFS, Boca Bridge 469 CFS, Farad 508 CFS, Reno 290 CFS and Vista (East of Town) 275 CFS.

Little Truckee River

Flows on the L.T. are 90 CFS. This is really good compared to August 15th last year when the flows were 60 CFS. The bad news is the PMD hatch is all but over. Even though the water comes out of the bottom of Stampede Reservoir it is warmer this year for sure. The weeds and moss on the bottom of the river is brutal right now. There are less big fish in the river and Nymphing is a pain. It only takes one or two drifts to get moss on your flies. Nymphing with a two fly rig is really tough. The bottom fly gets moss on it on almost every cast. That coupled with almost no dry fly activity is making the Little Truckee really tough. There also seems to be way less big fish in the Little Truckee this year. There are a lot of 5-8 inch fish being caught.

East Walker River

Flows are 103 CFS. Last year this time they were 136 CFS. Both outstanding flows for getting around the river but means the water will be warmer than normal. The Bridgeport area gets some really low overnight temperatures and the water temps. are dropping daily. It is still important to fish in the mornings and keep an eye on the water temperatures mid day. If they get above 70 it is a really good idea to stop fishing and give the fish a break. There are a lot of fish looking up right now at Grass Hoppers and Big Attractor Dries. The flows right now are awesome for hopper dropper set ups. It is even better with just an attractor dry with no dropper. It is worth the drive to the East Walker right now you just have to have the mind set to quit around noon. It is awesome wet wading water on the East Walker right now. No crowds (especially on the Nevada Side) and fish eating on the surface.

August 6th

We finally have a little cooler weather setting in around Reno and Lake Tahoe. This should help all of our local fisheries recover a bit from some really warm water conditions. We are not out of the woods yet but we are getting a nice break over the next few days. It is supposed to get hot again starting next week so keep an eye on the water temps. and knock off if the water you are fishing reaches 70 degrees.

Truckee River

The flows have remained very consistent on the Truckee over the past month. Most of the water is still coming from Lake Tahoe and entire California side is in great shape. There are still some bugs around like Golden Stones and Caddis but this is Crayfish season. Nymphing with a Crayfish pattern and a smaller dropper like a Caddis or a Little Yellow Stone or even something generic like a Red Copper John or a Pheasant Tail will do just fine. Streamers are also worth a try in olive and orange colors to imitate a fleeing Crayfish.

On the Nevada side the water is still really low. Normal flows for the summer months are in the 420-450 CFS range. They have been hovering around 290-310 CFS all summer. This coupled with really warm water has really made the fishing tougher than normal. The Reno area is getting break from the warm weather again this week through at least Sunday. The Stoneflies seem to be done but there are plenty of Crayfish. Nymphing with Crayfish or Stoneflies and a smaller dropper like a Red Copper John is working well. Flows are: Town of Truckee 367 CFS, Boca Bridge 464 CFS, Farad 498 CFS, Reno 287, Vista(Eas of Town 251 CFS.

East Walker River

The East Walker has been fishing really well. Flows have come down a bit with the cooling weather to around 69 CFS. We will have to see how the river handles a little lower flow this week with the warm water conditions. It is extremely important to fish the East Walker early and quit fishing when the water gets to 70 degrees. This is usually around 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Get there early and you can still get 5 hours or so on the water. On the California side smaller bugs like Tricos, Midges and Caddis have been working well fished a few different ways. You can fish a couple of flies under an indicator, do some “High Sticking” or Dry Dropper. Hoppers are out in force so a realistic hopper pattern is a great way to go right now. On the Nevada side fish are really looking up for attractor dries. This is a great time to bring two rods (or two anglers) and run through a spot with a big attractor dry like a Turk’s Tarantula or a Burk’s Hopper and then come back through with a nymph rig of some sort.

Little Truckee River

Flows are 78 CFS. Awesome flows for this time of year. The water in the Little Truckee comes from the bottom of Stampede Reservoir and is a lot colder than other area streams. It does tend to get a little warmer the further you go downstream from the dam and fish can get stacked in the upper stretches of the river. At 78 CFS, fish can spread out a little more and create more holding water. There is still a PMD hatch going on mid morning to early afternoon. Get there early though if you are going to have a chance to fish one of the more popular holes. For best results do not approach a spot and start blind fishing an indicator rig over and over again. These fish have seen it all. The Little Truckee is a technical fishery that should be fished that way. Get to a spot, observe, look for fish and make fewer casts. Take breaks often; the fish in the Little Truckee have a high tolerance to anglers and will start back feeding pretty quickly after getting spooked. PMD nymphs in 16 and 18, San Juan Worms and Midges are all worth a try. Have some PMD dries in the bag as well. All your flies should be tied sparse and with very if any flash. The water is clear and the fish will refuse a real bug so the imitations need to be good ones.

Davis Lake

Water temperatures at Davis are in the low to mid 70’s. It is really too warm to fish and not harm the fish. Fish are hanging out in deeper cooler water and really should be left alone until the water cools sometime in late August. If you have a fishing trip planned to Davis or Frenchman’s fish the first hour of light in the mornings and quit early. Be prepared to take any fish you catch home in case they do not survive the fight.

Sawmill Lake (Private Fishery)

Reno Fly Fishing Outfitters guides have been doing really well sight fishing at Sawmill Lake over the past month. Sawmill Lake is a little higher in altitude and has survived the summer heat pretty well. There has been some really good dry fly fishing and our clients at the lake have been doing very well. If you would like to sharpen your dry fly skills and catch some fish you can see and cast to let us know.

July 30th

We finally have a little cooler weather setting in around Reno and Lake Tahoe. This should help all of our local fisheries recover a bit from some really warm water conditions. We are not out of the woods yet but we are getting a nice break over the next few days. It is supposed to get hot again starting next week so keep an eye on the water temps. and knock off if the water you are fishing reaches 70 degrees.

Truckee River

The flows have remained very consistent on the Truckee over the past couple of weeks, except for a little run-off from a couple of thunder storms last week. Most of the water is still coming from Lake Tahoe and entire California side is in great shape. There are still some bugs around like Golden Stones and Caddis but this is Crayfish season. Nymphing with a Crayfish pattern and a smaller dropper like a Caddis or a Little Yellow Stone or even something generic like a Red Copper John or a Pheasant Tail will do just fine. Streamers are also worth a try in olive and orange colors to imitate a fleeing Crayfish.

On the Nevada side the water is still really low. Normal flows for the summer months are in the 420-450 CFS range. They have been hovering around 290-310 CFS all summer. This coupled with really warm water has really made the fishing tough. In some places runs that normally hold fish are too shallow. There are a lot of people swimming, tubing and playing in the deeper pools and there seems to be quite a few anglers on the water as well. It is important to fish wisely in order to have the best chance for success. Here are some tips for fishing on the Truckee given these conditions. 1. Fish early – The water is the coolest in the mornings and fish tend to be more active. It is also the time of day that has less traffic on the water. The fish have had a break overnight and are less spooked in high traffic areas. 2. Move around – Do not fish the same water all the time. Fish on the Truckee can’t take the constant pressure of the same anglers fishing the same holes with the same flies all the time. Fish some water you have not fished in a while and do not camp on one area. 3. Make fewer casts – When lower water exists fish seem to get smarter. The water has been clearer and there is less holding water. The really good holding water sees a lot of fishermen and the fish see lots of flies. Make sure your drifts are really good dead drifts at the correct depth. These tips will catch you more fish and make you a better fisherman. Flows on the Truckee are: Town of Truckee 378 CFS, Boca Bridge 462 CFS, Farad 502 CFS, Reno 316 CFS and Vista (East of Town) 304 CFS.

East Walker River

The East Walker has been fishing really well. Flows have come down a bit with the cooling weather to around 69 CFS. We will have to see how the river handles a little lower flow this week with the warm water conditions. It is extremely important to fish the East Walker early and quit fishing when the water gets to 70 degrees. This is usually around 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. Get there early and you can still get 5 hours or so on the water. On the California side smaller bugs like Tricos, Midges and Caddis have been working well fished a few different ways. You can fish a couple of flies under an indicator, do some “High Sticking” or Dry Dropper. Hoppers are out in force so a realistic hopper pattern is a great way to go right now. On the Nevada side fish are really looking up for attractor dries. This is a great time to bring two rods (or two anglers) and run through a spot with a big attractor dry like a Turk’s Tarantula or a Burk’s Hopper and then come back through with a nymph rig of some sort.

Little Truckee River

Flows are 78 CFS. Awesome flows for this time of year. The water in the Little Truckee comes from the bottom of Stampede Reservoir and is a lot colder than other area streams. It does tend to get a little warmer the further you go downstream from the dam and fish can get stacked in the upper stretches of the river. At 78 CFS, fish can spread out a little more and create more holding water. There is still a PMD hatch going on mid morning to early afternoon. Get there early though if you are going to have a chance to fish one of the more popular holes. For best results do not approach a spot and start blind fishing an indicator rig over and over again. These fish have seen it all. The Little Truckee is a technical fishery that should be fished that way. Get to a spot, observe, look for fish and make fewer casts. Take breaks often; the fish in the Little Truckee have a high tolerance to anglers and will start back feeding pretty quickly after getting spooked. PMD nymphs in 16 and 18, San Juan Worms and Midges are all worth a try. Have some PMD dries in the bag as well. All your flies should be tied sparse and with very if any flash. The water is clear and the fish will refuse a real bug so the imitations need to be good ones.

Davis Lake

Water temperatures at Davis are in the low to mid 70’s. It is really too warm to fish and not harm the fish. Fish are hanging out in deeper cooler water and really should be left alone until the water cools sometime in late August. If you have a fishing trip planned to Davis or Frenchman’s fish the first hour of light in the mornings and quit early. Be prepared to take any fish you catch home in case they do not survive the fight.

Sawmill Lake (Private Fishery)

Reno Fly Fishing Outfitters guides have been doing really well sight fishing at Sawmill Lake over the past month. Sawmill Lake is a little higher in altitude and has survived the summer heat pretty well. There has been some really good dry fly fishing and our clients at the lake have been doing very well. If you would like to sharpen your dry fly skills and catch some fish you can see and cast to let us know.

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July 23rd

Warm water warning! A lot of our streams, rivers and lakes in the Reno-Tahoe area are experiencing very warm water conditions. It is very hard for trout to survive water temperatures over 70 degrees. Especially if they have to endure any stress like being caught and released. It is very important to carry a thermometer with you and keep an eye on water temperatures. Fish in the mornings and sop fishing when the water reaches 70 degrees. Popular local fishing locations that are experiencing these conditions include, The Truckee River in Nevada, East Walker River, West Walker River, Davis Lake and Frenchman’s Reservoir. This is not the entire list so take your own temperature readings.

Truckee River

The flows have remained pretty much the same over the past week. Most of the water in the river is coming from Lake Tahoe and the upper river in California is in great shape. Nymphing with Golden Stones or a Crayfish pattern with a dropper like a Caddis or a Little Yellow Stone continues to produce. Crayfish are molting in the river and they are a really good source of food for the fish right now. This is a common occurrence for the Truckee in the summer. As the bugs start to become harder to find fish turn their attention to the Crayfish. Orange and brown streamers can also be effective. The water was 67 degrees at 9:00 am on July 23rd on the Nevada side. It is very low and warm and will probably stay that way for at least a few weeks. If you are going to fish on the Truckee in Nevada do it from sun up until about noon. The water east of town is extremely low and really should not be fished until conditions change. Flows are: Town of Truckee 383 CFS, Boca Bridge 452 CFS, Farad 503 CFS, Reno 304 CFS and Vista (East of Town) 104 CFS.

East Walker River

The East Walker has been fishing great. The flows are 103 CFS and have been in that range for quite some time. The problem is that the water is really warm. For most of us it is a long trip to fish until 11:00 am and quit due to warm water. For those of us who don’t mind the early days we have been rewarded with some really good stuff. On the California side smaller flies fished under an indicator have been the way to go. Tricos, Caddis and midges are all worth a try. Dry dropper set-ups are working well. On the Nevada side Big Ugly Dry Flies have been producing some really nice fish. Hoppers are out in force and fish are really keying in on them. Approach areas slowly and fish the edges, seems and any water out of the main current. These fish can be in 1-2 feet of water if un- disturbed. The important thing is take a thermometer and get off the water early and give the fish a break.

Little Truckee River

The water is always cold in the Little Truckee so no worries on the water temperatures. The flows are 64 CFS which is up about 20 CFs from the last few weeks. That is a great flow for this time of year. The problem is with other area waters struggling from the heat and fishing on the tough side, the Little Truckee could be crowded. Usually the fish seem to really pack into the upper stretches of the river. Famous holes like Lighting Tree and 6-10 are holding a lot of fish. There is still a pretty good PMD hatch and PMD dries and nymphs are the way to go. The best thing to do is to get there early and beat the crowds and wait for the hatch to start. Take your time and do not just hammer the water cast after cast with an indicator rig. Watch for rising fish and cast to individual fish. This will produce way better than blind fishing. Give the run a rest and let the fish start rising again. It is a really relaxing way to approach the water and very productive.

July 16th

Truckee River

The Truckee overall is in great shape. Even more of the water in the system is coming from Lake Tahoe now and this has helped the upper stretches of the river. The California side is probably the place to focus for a while as Reno continues to be very hot and the water in the river on the Nevada side is pretty low. There are plenty of Golden Stones in the river right now and husks can be seen on rocks sticking out of the water, especially on the Nevada side. Nymphing with a Golden Stone Nymph and a smaller dropper like a Caddis or a Little yellow Stone is a good way to go. He fish are really hanging out at the head of pools and runs and in pocket water where there is more oxygen and less traffic. This is a great time of year to be “High Sticking” without an indicator. Some of the water that fish are holding in runs too fast to fish with an indicator effectively. If you are going to fish on the Nevada side of the river then it is crucial to fish in the mornings. The combination of low water, hot days and lots of people in the river in the afternoons is really making the fishing tougher than normal. Flows are: Town of Truckee 406 CFS, Boca Bridge 452 CFS, Farad 498 CFS, Reno 298 CFS and Vista (East of Town) 178 CFS.

East Walker River

The flows on the East Walker are 81 CFS. They have been in this range for a while now. This is really low for the summer months on the East Walker and the flows have played a big part of the river getting very warm. The other main factor is that Bridgeport Reservoir is very low and the water coming out of the lake into the East Walker starts out very warm. On a year like this the water can actually cool down some as it gets into the river and actually spread out the fish throughout the river down into Nevada.

If you are going to the East Walker start very early and quit fishing by 11:00am. From 11:00 to 6:00pm the fish really need a break right now and we really should give them a break. There are some bugs hatching in the late evenings as the sun goes down especially on the California side. In the mornings Nymphing with small bugs like caddis, Trico’s and Midges on no more than 5X tippet is a good bet. Dry dropper rigs are also worth a try. You can fool the occasional fish on Hopper patterns through the next month or more. The fish should be hanging out in or near some type of white water to get more oxygen.

Little Truckee River

Flows are 41 CfS and have been low like this for a while now. There has been a PMD hatch but it is starting to wain a little. You can’t count on it every day for sure. There has been a ton of pressure on the river over the past month and the fish are really smart and spooky. At these flows the Little Truckee is a spot and stalk river that is best approached with less casts and more watching. This time of year the Little Truckee gets a lot of anglers who struggle on the Truckee and end up on the Little Truckee as a result. Indicators that are way too big and a cast after cast approach is the result. Anglers wade through areas that are holding fish and the result is tougher fishing. Your best bet is to try and find one of the larger holes or pools at the upper end of the stream. Hang out and try to spot fish feeding either on or under the surface. Make fewer casts, get a few good drifts and take a break. It usually does not take the fish long to start working again. PMD nymphs and Dries are a must as well as San Juan Worms and tine Midges.

Sawmill Lake

We have been doing really well sight fishing from shore at Sawmill. The lake is in great shape and the fish are as well. The little extra elevation and the depth of the lake help this fishery during the summer months. Hatches include Callabaetis, Midges and Damsels. There are also a fair number of Pine Beetles and Carpenter Ants that get blown into the water when the wind picks up. For anyone who would like to work on their dry fly fishing and cast to rising fish we are offering guided trips to Sawmill again this year. It is under new management and we have been granted access to take our clients fishing there again. We have had some really good days over the past week and look forward to the weeks to come.

Davis Lake

The water is really warm. We are expecting another heat wave to go through the area later this week and this is only going to drive fish deeper into colder water. There is a window of opportunity the first hour of light and the last hour as fish will tend to cruise in shallow water in search of Blood Midges and Damsels. During the day, indicator Nymphing in 12-25 feet of water with a deep water indicator system is the way to go. Be ready to maybe take a fish or two home with you as it is hard to get them going again after they are caught. It might be a good idea to wait till fall as temps. cool and the fish get active again.

Lassen Meadows Ranch

The lake got stocked pretty well this spring and it is in great shape. We are letting it take a break for the summer right now but we are taking reservations for the fall season.

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July 2nd

Truckee River

The water conditions on the Truckee in California continue to be really good. Most of the water in the system is being released from Lake Tahoe right now and there is a good flow from Tahoe City down to the State line. The river is starting to get on the low side in Nevada which is pretty bad timing with the record heat we are experiencing in the area right now.

The evening hatches are very compressed due to the air temps right now and are almost nonexistent on the Nevada side of the river. The best time to fish the river is early in the morning up until around lunch time. The water temps fluctuate daily with the air temps and by afternoon the water is pretty warm. Nymphing with a Golden Stone Nymph with a smaller dropper like a Caddis or a Little Yellow Stonefly is hard to beat right now. Look for fish to start to move up into faster water that holds more oxygen and has less pressure from fishermen, tubers and people playing in the river, especially with the 4th of July holiday this weekend. High Sticking without an indicator is the best way to approach this type of water for sure. An indicator can simply drag your flies out of the zone in faster water and make it more difficult to get a good drift. Heavy flies and a couple of BB split shot will also help to get your flies down faster. Flows are: Town of Truckee 330 CFS, Boca Bridge 437 CFS, Farad 538 CFS and Reno 331 CFS.

East Walker River

Flows on the East Walker are 90 CFS. They have gone up from 76 CFS over the past week. The water temps on the East Walker are getting up there. Warm weather and water temps are making it necessary to fish the East Walker from early in the morning up until around 11:00am. Bridgeport Reservoir is getting really low and is going to play a big role in higher than normal water temperatures this summer. Take a thermometer with you and get off the water if the temps reach 70 degrees.

The fishing is actually pretty good considering the extreme weather. Some cloudy afternoons over the past few days have helped for sure. On the California side there have been some Midges and some Caddis hatching. 90 CFS is a great flow for Dry Dropper rigs. Big Stoneflies or Hoppers with a Zebra Midge or a Caddis Pupa is a great way to approach the water right now. There are not as many bugs on the Nevada side but there are still some fish looking up for attractor dries as well. Look for fish to be hanging out in the deeper runs, at the head of pools and in seams near faster water.

Little Truckee River

The flows have dropped from a steady 200 CFs down to 90 CFS over the past week. Fish that were really spread out before are going to start to congregate in some of the larger holes on the Little Truckee. We have had a pretty good PMD hatch which is very common for this time of year on the L.T. As the water gets lower it is way more important to make less casts. The Little Truckee is really more of a spot and stalk type of river when it gets below 100 CFs. Fish are going to get spooky from low water and fishing pressure over the next few weeks and it is a way better idea to look more and cast less. Look for fish, make a few drifts and give them a break. Change locations often and then come back to an area and try it again. Plop after plop with an indicator rig will not help your success rate on the Little Truckee with lower flows. PMD nymphs and dries in size 16-18 are a must to have in your box right now. Make sure you have some floatant along with you to keep your dries riding high. This time of year even the real bugs get refused by rising fish. You have to really get a good drift to fool one of these Little Truckee fish right now, but it is very rewarding when you do.

Davis Lake

The water temperatures have skyrocketed at Davis over the past week. On June 22nd the water was 62 degrees and on June 28th they were 70 degrees. They have only gone up over the past few days and surface temperatures have been recorded at 75 degrees in some areas of the lake in the last few days. June was a really good month at Davis Lake. The Damsel hatch is still going on but there are a lot less fish chasing them around now. Blood Midges are still hatching in the evenings for about an hour or so. The “New” Hexagenia Mayfly hatch seems to be waning with the warmer water which is normal on other area lakes that have these huge yellow bugs. If you are going to fish Davis in the coming weeks do so for about an hour in the morning and again in the evenings. Try fishing in deeper water with either a faster sinking line with Wiggle Tails, Woolybuggers and Damsels. Hanging Blood Midge patterns under an indicator in 12-16 feet of water has also still been working well. Handle fish with care and get them back into the water quickly. Make sure they are right side up when you release them back into the water.

Frenchman’s Reservoir

The conditions are very similar to Davis Lake. The biggest difference is that Frenchman’s is very low this year due to the poor winter we had. There are a lot of weeds and for some reason the fishing has been off compared to last year. The lake has changed due to lower water and the fish are spending a lot of time in very deep water at Frenchman’s. Anglers that are doing best are fishing in 20-30 feet of water in the middle of the lake or near steep drop-offs and creek channels. This is hard to do with a fly rod unless you are using a very fast sinking line or a break-away indicator system.

June 18th

Truckee River

The Truckee is really coming into shape. What run-off we had is all but gone and the flows are just about right for this time of year. They just started releasing a little more water from Lake Tahoe in the last week which has really helped the upper section around Glenshire. The Canyon section has really fished well over the past week and the evenings have been awesome. Down around Reno it has been more of the same, Caddis on most evenings. Looks like we are in for a couple of days of wind which could slow the evening rise thing but after that we are in for some great weather coming up this weekend.

If you get a chance to fish the last hour before dark make sure you are rigged with some good dry Caddis patterns. Cutter’s E.C. Caddis in size 16 is hard to beat. Stay until dark. The last hour is the best for dry fly fishing. If you get lucky you might even see a Green Drake or two. During the day, Nymphing with a Stonefly or a Green Drake and a smaller dropper like a Caddis or a Little Yellow Stone Fly nymph in some of the deeper pools and runs is a good way to start. Make sure you use enough weight to get your flies down fast. A BB or even two BB’s are a good idea. Mornings and evenings are the time to go right now and will be for the rest of the summer, especially on the Nevada side of the Truckee. Flows are: Town of Truckee 320 CFS, Boca Bridge 592 CFs, Farad 672 CFS and Reno 475 CFS.

East Walker River

The East Walker has been fluctuating between 165 CFS and 134 CFS where it is now. This is probably going to be pretty common as water is released for irrigation. The fluctuations are not enough to really worry about and the fishing has been really good. Cooler weather over the past week or so has the water in great shape. There still are some Caddis hatching in the evenings and a little dry fly action on the California side in the mornings. On the Nevada side Hoppers and Stoneflies fished with a dropper is still hard to beat. The best nymphs to try are Caddis, Midges and San Juan Worms. The weather forecast looks like it is going to heat up some so get there early and fish the mornings and evenings.

Little Truckee River

The Little Truckee has been flowing around the 200 CFS mark for a couple of weeks now. The fishing has been pretty awesome. At 200 CFS, the fish have a chance to spread out some. The whole river is fishable and the fish get a break from pressure that 30 CFS can create. At 200 CFS, you have to take a little different approach. There are going to be a fair number of fish that hug the bank and stay out of the main current. Take your time approaching a new area and look for fish hanging out near the bank. PMD’s have started to make an appearance and the hatch is only going to get better over the next few weeks. PMD dries and nymphs should be in your box if you are going to the Little Truckee along with midges, San Juan worms and some Green Drake dries just in case.

Davis Lake

It is Damsel season! Davis Lake is in great shape and the Damsels are right on time. Here is a good way to approach Davis right now. Get there early in the morning around 7:30 ish. Rig up a floating line with a long 3x to 4x leader around 1-=0-14 feet. You can start with Blood Midge patterns or go straight to Damsels. On calmer days fish can be seen taking Midges and Damsels right near the surface. There are opportunities to sight cast to fish as well either from the lake or walking the shoreline. You should be able to fish this way for most of the morning. As the sun gets higher on the water the fish seem to be going a little deeper and it could be a good idea to switch to an intermediate line. In the afternoons switching over to a faster sinking line to get into 8-14 feet of water can keep you in the game. Wiggle Tails and Wooly buggers are a good way to go. You can also fish nymphs and midges under an indicator in 8-14 feet as well. In the evenings there can be a secondary Blood Midge hatch as well the last hour before dark. This pattern should continue for the next couple of weeks unless we get some really warm temperatures again.

Pyramid Lake

The Lake closes at the end of the month until October. It has really slowed down for shore anglers as the fish move out into deeper cooler water. There are still some fish being caught mostly from anglers in float tubes or pontoon boats in a little deeper water. Boaters are still catching fish on a regular basis trolling in 20-60 feet of water. Early mornings and late evenings are the best time to give it one last try at Pyramid.

June 11th

Truckee River

The Truckee in California is starting to pick up again after a little lull, in the action from the hot weather we had last week. The Caddis hatch is still lower on the river but it is making its way toward the Town of Truckee daily. There have also been some Green Drakes hatching in the canyon section. The stretch between Tahoe City and Prosser Creek is still low and will probably remain that way most of the summer. Nymphing either with an indicator or High Stick style has been really good. Stoneflies with a multitude of options for droppers like Caddis, Little Yellow Stones and PMD’s are a good way to go. If you are fishing downstream of the Boca Bridge don’t be afraid to use a BB split shot or even two. If you are fishing with an indicator in the lower river make sure to use one that is large enough to hold everything up and go a little deeper than you think. The water is still running pretty fast. The evenings in Nevada have been really fun after the sun gets off the water. The Caddis/Little Yellow Stone hatch has been awesome that last few evenings and there are fish keying in on them. The last hour of light is the best time to be out there for sure. The Caddis have been on the small side so far and even going down to a size 18 is worth a shot. The next few weeks should be really good for dry fly fishing on the Truckee. Flows are: Town of Truckee 211 CFS, Boca Bridge 569 CFS, Farad 653 CFS, Reno 509 CFS.

East Walker River

The East Walker has come up to 140 CFS. Normal flows for this time of year are usually in the 150 CFS to 300 CFS range. The NWS report only has the East Walker at about 23% for normal flows this year. Bridgeport reservoir is at 37% of capacity. This is going to be a tough summer on the East Walker. Now is the time to go if you are going to get some time in on the East Walker this year.

140 CFS is a great flow given the above information. Fishing right now has been pretty good. There has been a pretty decent Caddis hatch in the evenings on the California side after the sun gets off the water. During the day Nymphing with Caddis Pupa in lighter colors has been very effective. On the Nevada side Dry dropper set-ups with a Stone fly or even a Hopper pattern and a Caddis or a San Juan Worm as a dropper is hard to beat. Another great way to fish the East Walker right now is to take two rods or two people. Start out with a dry and make a few casts around the edges, seams and shallow areas. Be careful approaching an area, you will be surprised at how many fish you spook. Set down the Dry fly rod and go back through with a nymph rig with a small Stonefly and a Caddis or San Juan dropper. The air temperatures are already affecting the water temperatures and the best time to fish is in the morning up until about lunch and then again at sunset.

Little Truckee River

The Little Truckee is still running around 200 CFS. It has been steady now for about 11 days. The water in Stampede reservoir is being used to help fuel the lower Truckee River right now. At 200 CFS the water is back in the banks and should start to fish pretty good once the water stops dropping. Right now Nymphing with smaller bugs and smaller tippet in the size 18-20 and 5X range is a good way to start. Midges, Baetis, PMD’s and San Juan Worms are worth trying. As the water gets lower and clearer it is going to be way more important to take on a more stealthy approach at the Little Truckee. Look for a PMD hatch report very soon.

Pyramid Lake

June 11th and Pyramid is starting to take on its summer form. We have has some really warm weather and the water in the shallows is heating up. Fly fishing from shore is starting to get pretty tough. There are some good days out there but for the most part the fish have moved out into deeper water. The boaters fishing in 30-60 feet of water have still been having really good days at Pyramid. Some of the reports from boaters have been awesome, lots of fish and some big fish. It is not too late to give it a go at the lake. If you are fishing from shore early mornings and late evenings are going to be your best chance.

Davis Lake

Damselflies… The heat has finally woken up the damselflies at Lake Davis and it’s the start of the best hatch that Davis fly anglers have seen in quite some time. Water temperatures have spiked as well and are ranging from 67-72 degrees. Even with these lethal conditions the trout will still come in to feed for a few hours before returning to the comforts of deeper, cooler water. Summer mode is in full effect at the lake and good fishing starts at first light to about 1pm. Then probing the deeper shelves in 12-18 feet of water during the heat of the day will be productive. As evening comes the last two hours of light is good and there can be many rising fish if the water is not too choppy from a windy day. Effective flies this weekend included Red ice cream cones #12, blood midge emerger’s #12, damsel nymphs #10-12 that are not weighted, Jay Fair wiggle tails in olive and brown #10-12, UV2 olive mayfly nymphs #14-16, and Jay Fair trolling flies #8 in brown with copper flash. The rainbows are hot right now and range in size 17-20″, check your knots and tippets on a regular basis. Parasites are beginning to show on some of the fish, not too thick yet but we’ll have to wait and see.

June 2nd

Truckee River

The Truckee River is in great shape right now and it looks like for the rest of the season. The National Weather service drought report indicates that the Truckee River should see normal flows for the remainder of 2013. This is great news, especially because other area streams and rivers are not going to see their normal flows. (See Drought Report)

The Truckee is starting to level out near its normal summer time flows. This is early in the year for this to be the case but it has really helped the fishing. In California, the flows are already low from Lake Tahoe through the town of Truckee and Glenshire. Once you get to Boca Bridge and down through Reno from there the river has much more water in it which is normally the case. There have been some PMD’s, Carpenter Ants and a few March Brown’s flying around on the California side and the Caddis are out in force in the evenings around Reno. There have actually been some anglers wet wading the river already. In the mornings, Nymphing either with an indicator or High Stick style has been really good. Stoneflies with a multitude of options for droppers like Caddis, Little Yellow Stones and PMD’s are a good way to go. If you are fishing downstream of the Boca Bridge don’t be afraid to use a BB split shot or even two. If you are fishing with an indicator in the lower river make sure to use one that is large enough to hold everything up and go a little deeper than you think. The water is still running pretty fast. The evenings in Nevada have been really fun after the sun gets off the water. The Caddis/Little Yellow Stone hatch has started and there are fish keying in on them. The last hour of light is the best time to be out there for sure. The Caddis have been on the small side so far and even going down to a size 18 is worth a shot. The next few weeks should be really good for dry fly fishing on the Truckee. Flows are: Town of Truckee 220 CFS, Boca Bridge 592 CFS, Farad 683 CFS, Reno 537 CFS.

East Walker River

The East Walker is running really low for this time of year at 68 CFS. Normal flows for this time of year are usually in the 150 CFS to 300 CFS range. The NWS report only has the East Walker at about 23% for normal flows this year. Bridgeport reservoir is at 37% of capacity. This is going to be a tough summer on the East Walker. Now is the time to go if you are going to get some time in on the East Walker this year.

The fishing right now has been pretty good. There has been a pretty decent Caddis hatch in the evenings on the California side after the sun gets off the water. During the day Nymphing with Caddis Pupa in lighter colors has been very effective. On the Nevada side Dry dropper set-ups with a Stone fly or even a Hopper pattern and a Caddis or a San Juan Worm as a dropper is hard to beat. Another great way to fish the East Walker right now is to take two rods or two people. Start out with a dry and make a few casts around the edges, seams and shallow areas. Be careful approaching an area, you will be surprised at how many fish you spook. Set down the Dry fly rod and go back through with a nymph rig with a small Stonefly and a Caddis or San Juan dropper. The air temperatures are already affecting the water temperatures and the best time to fish is in the morning up until about lunch and then again at sunset.

Little Truckee River

It appears as though the Little Truckee will not be affected too much this year by the low snowpack the last two winters. It does look like the flows will be on the low side for the rest of the summer and into the fall. Some of it depends on where they are drawing water from to keep the Truckee flowing. All the reservoirs including Lake Tahoe, Donner Lake, Prosser and Stampede will be called on to help.

The Little Truckee is still running around 200 CFS. This is down from 400 CFS just 4 days ago. We will have to keep an eye on the flows over the next week to see where they settle out. At 200 CFS the water is back in the banks and should start to fish pretty good once the water stops dropping. Warmer air temperatures over the past few days coupled with lower water could get the PMD’s going any time. Right now Nymphing with smaller bugs and smaller tippet in the size 18-20 and 5X range is a good way to start. Midges, Baetis, PMD’s and San Juan Worms are worth trying. As the water gets lower and clearer it is going to be way more important to take on a more stealthy approach at the Little Truckee.

Pyramid Lake

June 2nd and we are still talking about Pyramid Lake. Cooler weather over the past couple of weeks really got the fishing going again at Pyramid. As the Summit Lake strain fish finished spawning and seemed to move out into deeper water, a bunch of Pilot Peak strain fish showed up around the North half of the lake. As more and more of the Pilot Peak Lahontan Cutthroats get put in the lake over the next few years it is going to be interesting to see if this late spring appearance is going to be normal. Warmer weather over the weekend slowed things a bit but there are still fish being caught from shore. Red Maholo midges are still hard to beat if you can find any anywhere. Just about all the fly fishing retailers sold through their stock of them long ago. Look for beaches on the North end of the lake that have access to deeper water. Spider Point, Shot Dog and Monument are all worth a try. Fish your nymphs as deep as possible without dragging the bottom. Shooting head set-ups are also working well. The faster the sink rate the better. Black Wooly’s with White Beetles as droppers is the way to go. This late bite could end anytime so get out to the lake ASAP. Windy days are the best.

Davis Lake

After some amazing few days of Carpenter Ant fishing about a week ago, Davis seemed to slow down a bit over the weekend. The Blood Midge hatch has been a little off for the past few days, which was going pretty good before that. Anglers that have been having the best success have been fishing Blood Midge patterns in 14-18 feet of water. Damsels fished in deep water are also starting to produce. Weed beds are starting to form with way warmer weather ahead the Damsels are going to get going any time. The next few weeks should see big changes for Davis. This should be a great year.

May 1oth

Pyramid Lake

Water temperatures have jumped into the high 50’s over the past week. The Pyramid Lake fisheries reading at Sutcliff on May 5th was 56 degrees. The water is still in great shape for May and there are still some really nice fish being caught. There was a 14 pound Pilot Peak fish caught at Warrior Point on May 3rd. There was an 11 Pound Pilot Peak fish caught around Popcorn on the same day and a 10 pound fish caught at Dago Bay as well. Although numbers are a little on the low side there are still some big fish cruising the shallows. The next couple of weeks should be pretty good at Pyramid. There have been a ton of Chronomids or Midges hatching as well as a few Callabaetis as well. Nymphing rigs continue to produce with red or black Maholo’s. This is also a great time of year to fish Olive colored flies right on the bottom to imitate Dragon Fly nymphs and sand beetles.

Truckee River

The flows continue to rise almost on a daily basis. Thunderstorms and snowmelt are both contributing to the water levels on the Truckee. Water clarity remains pretty good so far and unless we get a big rain event somewhere in the area over the next few days it should be o.k. At the current flows wading the river gets a lot more difficult. Be careful wading right now the conditions sometimes make the river look easier to get around than it really is. This would be a great time to work on your streamer techniques either with a floating line and a weighted streamer or even a short sink tip line. Look for fish to be holding out of the main current in seams, near the bank and in slower water. There have been a few Caddis sightings on the lower river East of Reno. It should not be long until we start to see more and more bugs in the evenings. There are also still some March Brown’s and some Skwala Stoneflies around as well. Flows are: Town of Truckee 220 CFS, Boca Bridge 740 CFS, Farad 853 CFS, Reno 727 CFS.

Little Truckee River

Flows jumped to 459 CFS over the past week. At these flows there is water outside the banks and in places that are usually dry or have very little water. The fish are really spread out right now. Look for fish close to the bank and in slower water out of the main current. Nymphing has been really good lately but you have to approach the river differently. With this much water a lot more weight is needed to get your flies down. A larger lead fly in a two fly rig can also help. Don’t be afraid to use 1 or 2 BB split shot and put more distance between your indicator and your flies. Heavier tippet is also recommended. Midges, Baetis nymphs and San Juan worms are all a good bet right now. This would also be a good time to try some streamers in some of the larger pools.

East Walker River

Flows are 67 CFS. These are very low flows for the first part of May. Below average snowpack in the East Walker drainage is most likely going to keep the flows down for most of the spring. The fishing should remain really good until the weather gets hot sometime in late June or early July. There have been more fishermen in the area with the traditional “opener” and the flows at fishable levels. This has made fishing a little tough especially on the California side. Caddis nymphs in size 16-18 have been working well. Fish are definitely looking up and dry dropper rigs with a Stone fly dry and a Caddis nymph is a good way to go.

Davis Lake

Davis is fishing o.k. but the fish seem to really be spread out. This is pretty common at Davis after the fish move on from their yearly spawning tendencies and before the lake gets more weed growth. There is a really good Blood Midge hatch most days especially when the wind is down. Fishing blood midge patterns under an indicator or with a floating line and a long leader making very slow strips has been pretty effective in 6-14 feet of water. There have been some fish eating emergers as well. It will get a little easier to target fish near the surface as the lake gets more weed growth in the coming weeks.

Frenchman’s Reservoir

Fishing has been a little on the slow side at Frenchman’s. It is hard to figure out why. This time last year it was pretty much wide open. It may be due to the lake being low from a dry winter. There is a decent Callabaetis hatch starting and that could get things going over the next couple of weeks. Some of the coves are going to be pretty shallow this year and the fish will be in a little deeper water as the spring goes on and the water warms up. Hopefully the report at Frenchman’s will improve soon.